LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 
Class  ■"      '     • 


;RAL 


THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE  SCHOOLS 
OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


^«i^£HAL 


The  Church  and  Private  vSchools 
of  North  Carolina 


R  HISTORICJIL  STUDY 


BY  CHARLES  LEE  RAPER 


Published  through  the  kindness  of  President 
Dred  Peacock.  All  books  referred  to  are  in  the 
library  of  Greensboro  Female  College. 


91 


'CJiEUl 


The  Church  and  Private  Schools 
of  North  Carolina 


R  HISTORICJ^L  STUDY 


BY  CHARLES  LEE  RARER 


GREENSBORO,  N.  C. : 

Jos.  J.  Stone,  Book  and  Job  Printer. 

18«8. 


filNERAl    C^ 


CONTENTS. 


Adams,  James 22 

Archibald,  Robert 59 

Arndt.  Gottfried 61-62 

Asheville  Female  College 200-202 

The  Baptist  Female  University 247 

Beuthahn 63 

Bingham  School 76-84 

Caldwell  Institute 104-106 

Caldwell's  Log  College 37-44 

Carolina  Female  College 118-119 

Caswell  Academy 75 

Catawba  College 226-228 

Charlotte  Female  Institute 124-125 

The  Chowan  Baptist  Female  Institute 219-220 

Claremout  College 240 

Clio's  Nursery  and  Science  Hall 52-56 

Cokesbury  School  and  Early  Methodism 63-67 

Crowfield 35-37 

Church  of  England,  First  Schools 21-24 

Davenport  College 231-234 

Davidson  College 147  166 

Earl.  Daniel 24 

Edenton  Academy 29  31 

Edgeworth  P^emale  Seminary 108-114 

The  Eighteenth  Century  Schools 9-71 

Elizabeth  College  246-245 

Elon  College 242-245 

The  Episcopal  Theological  School 102-103 

The  Fayetteville  Female  Seminary 120  121 

Floral  College 118 

German  Schools 60-63 

General  View,  18th  Century 9-21 

Greensboro  Female  College 202-219 

Greensboro  High  School : 106-108 

GriflRn,  Charles 21-2:^ 

Guilford  College 166-174 

Hico  Academy 75 

Horner  School  224-226 

Horner  and  Graves 128-129 


117951 


Some  Incorporated  Schools H7-71 

Innes  Academy 23-24 

Introduction ' 8-8 

Judson  College 127-128 

Kerr,    David 59-60 

Lenoir  ( College 245-246 

Littleton  Female  College 240-241 

Louisburg  Female  College. 234-235 

Lutheran  Schools HO-63 

Mashburn 23 

Moir,  James 23 

Mount  Amoena  Female  Seminary 237 

Newbern  Academy 24-29 

North  Carolina  College 230-231 

Oak  Ridge  Institute 222-224 

Oxford  Female  Seminary 220-222 

Henry  Patillo's  Schools 50-52 

Peace  Institute 238-240 

The  Early  Presbyterian  Schools 31-35 

Queen 's  Museum 44-50 

Robinson,  John 73-74 

Rutherford  College 235-236 

Salem  Female  Academy 84-102 

St.  Mary's  College 241-242 

St.  Mary's  School 198-200 

Statesville  Female  College 235 

Thomasville  Female  College 125-127 

Trinity  College 174-198 

Wake  Forest  College 132-147 

Wall  is,  James 72-73 

Warrenton  Female  College 114-116 

Warrenton  Female  Collegiate  Institute 116-117 

Wayne  Female  College 121 

Weaverville  College 228-230 

Wesleyan  Female  College 119-120 

Wilson  Collegiate  Institute 130 

Wilson,  John  McKamie : 74-75 

Yadkin  College 121 

Zion  Parnassus 56-58 


INTRODUCTION 


To  the  student  of  history  North  Carolina  presents 
many  phases  and  contrasts.  It  is  a  queer  State,  and  one 
often  hard  to  understand.  Many  classes  and  distinc- 
tions have  marked  her  life.  There  has  been  much  of 
politics — often  too  much.  There  has  been  some  real  indus- 
try ,  though  it  has  sometimes  been  misguided.  There  has 
been  intellectual  and  social  culture,  but  dMs  has  been  very 
limited.  Indeed  it  is  a  State  of  a  number  of  separate 
forces,  all  having  something  in  common,  but  held  to- 
gether by  no  very  strong  ties.  The  opposition  to  royal 
rule  and  creed  early  in  our  existence  divorced  Church 
and  State  ;  and  they  have  thus  remained  throughout  our 
history.  The  country  was  settled  by  many  different- 
peoples  and  under  various  conditions  ;  religious,  econo- 
mic, social  and  other  causes  gradually  filled  up  the  fer- 
tile spots.  The  English,  with  a  deep  love  for  country 
aristocracy,  with  clear  distinctions  of  social  classes,  with 
ideas  of  religion  and  civil  rule  of  their  own,  settled  and 
made  their  mark  upon  the  north-eastern  part ;  the  Qua- 
kers, of  simple  and  economic,  free  and  peaceful  dispo- 
sitions, opposed  to  social  distinctions,  the  north-eastern 
and  middle  ;  the  Scotch-Irish,  of  restless  and  indepen- 
dent natures,  made  daring  and  intensely  patriotic  by  the 
conflicts  in  their  own  countries,  the  south-eastern,  along 


4  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  Cape  Fear,  and  the  section  of  which  Charlotte  is 
now  the  center;  the  Moravians,  peace-loving  and  ener- 
getic, that  which  is  Forsyth  county;  the  Lutherans  and 
Germans,  thrifty  and  prosperous  farmers,  opposed  to 
city  life  and  crowded  conditions ,  on  both  sides  of  the 
Catawba  and  between  this  and  the  Yadkin  ;  the  French 
Huguenots  as  far  north  as  Hillsboro  and  south  as  the 
Pedee  river ;  the  Swiss  and  Palatines  at  the  junction  of 
the  Neuse  and  Trent.  All  these  made  their  distinct 
markings  upon  each  section  and  have  shown  their  life 
in  their  various  institutions,  especially  their  churches 
and  schools. 

The  State  has  never  been  united  on  any  one  great 
question — on  any  one  idea.  Planted  as  separate  ele- 
ments and  under  various  conditions  and  faiths,  the 
State  is  but  an  aggregation  of  many  distinct  forces,  all 
in  the  main  having  the  same  end  in  view,  but  endeav- 
oring to  attain  this  in  different  ways  and  by  different 
methods.  This  has  been  and  is  especially  true  in  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  education.  Though  the  State  Univer- 
sity has  existed  more  than  one  hundred  years  and  done 
her  part  well,  yet  the  majority  of  men,  and  all  the 
women  until  1892,  have  received  their  education  from 
church  and  private  enterprises  ;  and  these  have  failed  to 
reach  hundreds  and  thousands.  For  the  last  forty  years 
or  so  a  public  school  system  has  been  experimented  with  ; 
and  for  the  past  fifteen  or  twenty  years  a  good  many 
towns  have  levied  a  special  tax  and  had  graded  schools 
for  nine  months  in  the  year.  Still  many,  very  many,  of 
the  white  population  cannot  read  and  write.  There  are 
now  almost  as  many  illiterate  whites  in  this  State  as  in 
all  the  other  of  the  original  thirteen  put  together.  It  is 
within  very  recent  times  that  changes  in  public  thought 
and  sentiment  on  this  line  have  taken  place  ;  and  a  good 
deal  of  this  is  due  to  the  worthy  efforts  of  Dr.  Charles  D. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  5 

Mclver,  President  of  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial 
College,  and  Dr.  E.  A.  Alderman,  President  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina.  While  there  is  an  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  College  for  the  whites  at  Raleigh, 
an  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  for  the  negroes 
and  a  Normal  and  Industrial  College  for  white  girls  at 
Greensboro,  and  several  schools  of  a  similar  nature  for 
negroes  at  other  points,  none  of  them  are  old  enough  to 
belong  properly  to  history.  One  State,  many  church 
and  private  schools,  and  a  very  poor  public  system,  have 
fought  the  battle  with  ignorance;  and  fought  it  nobly, 
but  still  there  is  a  great  deal  to  do. 

The  writer  does  not  want  to  be  misunderstood  on  this 
point ;  and  does  not  say  these  words  from  a  lack  of 
patriotism  and  true  appreciation  of  his  State's  history. 
He  has  studied  very  carefully  into  the  real  life  of  its  peo- 
ple. He  has  seen  many  phases  commendable  and  great ; 
others  far  below  what  they  might  be.  There  are  latent 
forces  in  great  abundance,  but  there  has  been  a  decided 
failure  to  cultivate  them.  There  is  strength  of  charac- 
ter and  intellect  as  vigorous  by  nature  as  any  state  can 
supply,  but  it  has  rarely  been  moved  to  its  best.  The 
many  and  great  deeds  of  valor  during  the  Civil  War 
have  demonstrated  to  the  world  that  many  of  our  people 
have  the  stuff  of  which  heroes  are  made.  We  are  quiet 
and  conservative,  yet  strong  and  true  ;  and  we  have  done 
far  more  in  our  life  than  most  people  give  us  credit  for. 
Still  we  have  not  done  by  any  means  up  to  the  extent  of 
our  abilities  and  opportunities  ;  and  in  the  way  of  deep 
interest  and  enthusiasm  in  education  we  have  perhaps 
done  least. 

As  a  rule  the  history  of  the  State  has  never  been  writ- 
ten, at  any  rate  with  much  fullness  and  accuracy.  For 
the  most  part  the  standard  histories  are  only  political 
treatise,  and  ignore  the  social,  religious  and  intellectual 


6  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

development.  With  one  or  two  exceptions  it  is  to  the 
church  histories,  and  in  many  cases  these  are  very 
meager,  that  one  must  go  for  information  on  the  early 
schools  :  Foote's  Sketches  and  Caruther's  Life  of  Cald- 
well for  the  Presbyterian  ;  Reichel's  History  for  the 
Moravian  ;  Bernheim  for  the  Lutheran  and  German  Re- 
formed ;  Cheshire  for  the  Episcopal ;  Weeks  for  the 
Quakers.  On  the  educational  history  anything  like  a 
full  and  comprehensive  work  has  never  appeared.  The 
only  works  of  any  kind  on  this  line  are  those  of  Dr.  Kemp 
P.  Battle,  who  has  written  a  short  sketch  of  the  Univer- 
sity and  is  now  engaged  in  writing  a  full  history  of  the 
same,  and  Dr.  Charles  L.  Smith,  who,  in  1888,  published 
through  the  Bureau  of  Education,  of  Washington,  the 
History  of  Education  of  North  Carolina.  Both  of  these 
are  excellent  works  as  far  as  they  go ;  the  first  does  not 
touch  the  church  and  private  schools  at  all  and  the  lat- 
ter very  meagerly.  So  that  the  forces  which  have  had 
more  to  do  in  the  growth  and  shape  of  our  institutions  of 
society  than  all  others  have  yet  to  be  searched  out  and 
written. 

That  there  is  a  need  for  investigation  on  this  line  is 
very  apparent.  The  whole  field  is  full  of  interest  and 
demands  attention.  Much  of  the  history  of  the  State  is 
passing  away  ;  and  soon  its  recovery  will  be  impossible. 
Some  of  the  present  conflicts  are  due  for  the  most  part 
to  a  lack  of  knowledge  and  appreciation  of  our  educa- 
tional history.  Much  difficulty,  however,  is  met  with  in 
obtaining  sufficient  material ;  in  some  cases  a  large  part 
of  the  history  is  lost  and  its  recovery  is  doubtful.  The 
writer  has  been  collecting  material  from  every  obtainable 
source  ;  and  in  the  case  of  many  of  the  schools  his  collec- 
tion is  fairly  complete.  He  has  written  hundreds  of  letters 
to  parties  directly  or  indirectly  concerned;  and  shall  use  in 
this  sketch  many  of  their  replies,  after  they  have  been  com- 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  7 

pared  and  condensed.  He  has  at  his  disposal  about  twelve 
hundred  different  titles  on  North  Carolina,  besides  a 
large  collection  of  catalogues,  reports  and  clippings  ;  also 
has  the  originals  or  copies  of  many  of  the  historical 
sketches  of  the  schools.  Due  acknowledgement  will  be 
given  in  the  proper  place  to  all  the  authorities  used  and 
to  those  who  have  given  assistance.  The  writer  w^ould 
be  ungrateful  indeed  if  he  did  not  mention  in  this  con- 
nection the  kind  appreciation  and  aid  of  Dr.  Dred  Pea- 
cock, President  of  the  Greensboro  Female  College,  whose 
collection  on  North  Carolina  history  for  the  College  Li- 
brary is  about  the  largest  and  most  complete  in  existence. 
In  the  investigation  facts  alone  have  been  searched  for ; 
and  in  the  writing  the  plain  truth  will  be  the  aim.  Some 
statements  will  perhaps  displease,  but  no  ill-will  is  em- 
bodied in  them.  Some  mistakes  will  doubtless  be  made, 
but  they  will  be  due  to  wrong  information  given.  Some 
rash  conclusions  may  be  drawn  ;  the  writer's  inexperi- 
ence is  his  apology. 

Before  bringing  this  introduction  to  a  close  a  few  more 
points  are  especially  worthy  of  notice.  During  the 
early  development  the  Church  and  School  went  hand  in 
hand.  Wherever  there  was  established  a  church  in  most 
cases  a  school  w^as  annexed.  This  is  notably  true  with 
the  Presbyterians,  and  to  a  large  extent  with  the  Lu- 
therans, Germans  and  Churchmen.  As  a  rule  the  one 
who  preached  for  the  congregation  was  also  their  teacher, 
and  there  are  a  good  many  instances  where  the  preacher 
was  wanting  and  the  teacher  became  the  "lay-reader" 
for  the  churches  in  his  section .  The  two  have  all  the 
time  been  of  mutual  relation  and  assistance  to  each 
other ;  the  growth  of  one  has  been  the  growth  of  the 
other.  Their  combined  influence  has  been  deeply  felt 
in  every  phase  of  life.  Really,  one  does  not  at  all  un- 
derstand and  appreciate  North  Carolina  history  until  he 


8  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

has  gone  to  the  depths  of  the  church  and  private  insti- 
tutions of  learning.  Often  peculiar  and  characteristic 
ideas  in  politics  and  society  are  found  ;  and  in  many 
cases  these  are  due  to  some  teacher  or  school.  Thomas 
Cooper  and  Francis  Libber,  in  South  Carolina  College, 
shaped  the  public  thought  of  the  whole  State  and  much 
of  the  South  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  prior  to  the  Civil 
War.  Thomas  Jefferson  and  the  Universiy  of  Virginia 
have  made  a  deep  mark  upon  the  intellectual,  political 
and  religious  life  of  the  whole  South.  In  North  Caro- 
lina the  University  and  other  leading  schools  have 
played  equally  as  conspicuous  a  part.  In  the  early 
period  Dr.  David  Caldwell  was  the  controlling  force  in  the 
middle  section  for  well  nigh  sixty  years  ;  and  he  gained 
entrance  into  the  minds  of  men  through  his  "log-college" 
as  well  as  by  means  of  his  pulpit.  Dr.  Braxton  Craven, 
who  was  the  guiding  star  of  Trinity  College  for  about 
forty  years,  stamped  his  great  force  upon  many  a  one 
now  prominent  in  religious,  literary  and  political  life. 
The  same  is  true  of  Dr.  Nereus  Mendenhall,  wlio 
moulded  and  shaped  to  a  large  extent  the  institution  now 
known  as  Guilford  College  ;  and  equally  true  of  some 
leader  in  every  school  in  the  State.  Much  of  the  best  of 
our  life  has  been  and  is  in  them  ;  much  of  the  history  of 
the  State  has  been  made  by  them.  But  in  reviewing  the 
subject  there  is  much  of  sadness  as  well  as  hope  and 
promise.  There  has  been  lack  of  appreciation  and  sym- 
pathy on  almost  every  hand.  Many  heroic  characters 
have  toiled  and  spent  their  lives  for  the  minds  of  their 
fellow-men,  still  have  died  in  want.  Strong  minds  have 
dwelt  among  us  and  great  opportunities  for  intellectual 
culture  have  been  opened,  but  few  have  said  ''yes." 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLI 


Chapter  I. — The  18th  Century 


GENERAL  VIEW. 

Some  general  statements  were  made  in  the  introductory 
chapter  about  these  earlier  schools.  It  is  the  intention 
to  give  here  the  fullest  possible  account:  their  origin, 
growth,  relation  to  church,  society  and  civil  government. 
In  the  investigation  the  fact  comes  out  that  the  State 
took  very  little  interest  and  part  in  these  schools.  It  did 
practically  nothing  till  the  University  was  projected ; 
and  this  was  at  the  close  of  the  century,  it  being  char- 
tered December  the  11th,  1789,  and  opened  in  February, 
1795.  At  this  time  there  was  not  a  single  public  school ; 
nor  did  any  public  system  come  about  for  a  long  time 
thereafter.  In  most  cases  the  schools  were  taught  by 
the  preacher  of  the  congregation.  The  professional 
teacher  was  a  rarity  indeed ;  and  where  one  is  found  he 
was  under  the  church's  auspices,  and  in  many  ways 
assisted  his  section  in  matters  religious.  In  the  whole 
history  of  the  State  the  Church  and  School  have  gone 
hand  in  hand,  and  each  has  always  been  of  assistance  to 
the  other.  These  schools  were  by  no  means  numerous; 
and  ignorance  was  the  common  thing  among  most  of  the 
settlers  and  their  children.  During  the  proprietary 
government  (1663-1729)  there  are  on  record  but  two  or 
three  litfcje  schools ,  which  will  be  considered  later ;  and 
from  this  till  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century 
the  school  history  is  very  meager. 

Many  different  interpretations  of  these  facts  and  con- 
ditions have  been  made.  Some  have  said  that  the  State 
was  first  peopled  by  political  and  religious  refugees,  by 
cut-throats,  irreligious  and  worthless  characters.  Others 
have  been  more  favorable  in  their  explanations.     To  say 


10  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  least,  the  character  of  the  early  settlers  has  been  and 
is  yet  a  doubtful  question.  Williamson,  in  speaking  of 
the  Province  up  to  about  the  year  1775,  says  that  edu- 
cation was  entirely  neglected  by  the  settlers  as  a  whole, 
but  that  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  well  educated  and 
that  some  sent  their  children  to  the  schools  in  England. ^ 
Martin,  whose  history  very  meagerly  covers  the  period 
from  the  settlement  to  almost  the  beginning  of  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  says  that  there  were  only  two  schools 
in  the  whole  Province — Edenton  and  Newbern — and  that 
religion  was  at  a  low  ebb  indeed;  that  very  few  minis- 
ters of  any  denomination  could  be  found. ^  The* same 
author,  in  speaking  of  the  population  of  about  1703, 
gives  a  still  more  unfavorable  view.  He  makes  them  as 
almost  total  strangers  to  any  religious  principles  or  pub- 
lic worship;  declares  them  to  be  loose,  licentious  char- 
aoters,  and  persons  who  regard  the  fundamental  princi- 
ples of  religion  with  ridicule.  He  says  that  they  were 
of  various  nations  and  sects  ;  *' Scotch  Presbyterians, 
Dutch  Lucherans,  French  Calvinists,  Irish  Catholics, 
English  Churchmen,  Quakers,  and  Dissenters;  Emi- 
grants from  Bermuda  and  the  West  Indies,  which  from 
their  late  settlements,  could  not  be  places  remarkable 
for  the  education  of  young  people  in  Christianity  and 
morality."^  Bancroft  says  fand  Dr.  Chas.  L.  Smith  also 
quotes  this  on  page  130  in  his  "History  of  Education  in 
North  Carolina")  :  "  Here  was  a  colony  of  men  from 
civilized  life,  scattered  among  forests,  hermits  with 
wives  and  children,  resting  in  the  bosom  of  nature 
in  perfect  harmony  with  the  wilderness  of  their  gentle 
clime.  With  absolute  freedom  of  conscience,  benevolent 
reason  was  the  simple  rule  of  their  conduct.  ""^     The  same 

1.  Williamson's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  II.,  p.  82. 

2.  Martin's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  II.,  p.  395. 

3.  Ibid,Vol.  l,p.  218. 

4.  Bancroft's  United  States,  Vol.  II.,  p.  154. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  H 

historian  makes  the  statement  in  another  place  that  the 
first  settlers  took  affairs  very  easy  and  had  little  indus- 
try— that  they  were  hunters  and  tillers  of  the  soil  at 
their  leisure  ;  untroubled  by  external  wars  ;  unpolished, 
but  of  the  highest  personal  freedom.  ^  Many  of  the 
wealthy  planters  had  tutors  for  their  children.  Others 
sent  them  away  to  colleges  :  those  along  the  Cape  Fear 
to  Harvard;  those  on  the  northeast  to  England.- 
Hawks,  who  is  the  most  accurate  and  exhaustive,  but 
whose  works  cover  only  from  the  settlement  to  the  end 
of  the  proprietary  government  (1729) ,  says  that  among 
the  higher  classes  there  was  much  learning  and  that  the 
officers  of  State  had  fine  education  and  culture  ;  and 
cites  as  illustrations  Gale,  Little,  Moseley,  Swan  and 
Lawson.^  In  another  place  he  says  that  there  were 
many  bad  men,  and  a  few  good  ones,  (especially  among 
the  Quakers).^  The  same  eminent  author  gives  copies 
of  several  original  manuscripts  bearing  on  the  subject  of 
religion  and  culture  among  the  English  settlers.  He 
gives  a  letter  from  Rev.  James  Adams  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  dated  18th  of 
September,  1708.  This  letter  is  about  to  this  effect : 
that  there  were  in  general  three  kinds  of  people  in  the 
province  :  many  members  of  the  Church  of  England  who 
had  truth  and  religion  ;  some  Quakers  ;  most  of  the  pop- 
ulation made  up  of  the  ignorant  and  of  those  who  neither 
knew  nor  professed  religion  at  all;  that  the  Quakers, 
though  they  were  few  in  number  (about  the  seventh 
part) ,  still  had  great  influence  in  government  by  the 
assistance  of  Governor  Archdale,  and  that  they  with  the 
Presbyterians  who  sided  with  them  would  soon  become 
strong  enough  to  bear  down  and  break  up  the  Church  of 

1.  Bancroft's  mstoiy  of  United  States,  (1879),  Vol.  II.,  p.  202. 

2.  Wheeler's  Reminiscences,  p.  257. 

3.  Hawks'  History  of  North  Carolina.  Vol.  II..  p.  369. 
i.  Ibid,Vol.  II.,p.  338. 


12  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

England.  1  Wheeler  gives  the  Province  a  good  deal  of 
intelligence  and  brings  up  as  examples,  in  addition  to  the 
above  named,  Hyde,  Porter,  Lillington,  Harvey,  San- 
derson, Pollock,  Lowe  and  others. ^ 

After  looking  very  carefully  and  extensively  into  the 
subject,  the  writer  thinks  that  the  early  settlers  did  in 
part  their  duty  as  to  education.  It  must  be  confessed 
that  they  were  negligent,  as  they  are  to-day,  and  that 
they  did  not  come  up  to  the  fullest  develoj^ment  that  was 
within  their  reach.  Many  points  are  worthy  of  consid- 
eration in  this  connection  ;  and  from  this  consideration 
comes  a  more  favorable  view.  For  a  long  time  the 
Province  was  settled  only  very  sparsely — in  the  fertile 
spots  along  the  rivers  ;^  and  these  settlements  were  as  a 
rule  far  apart. ^  There  were  few  means  of  communica- 
tion;  and  these  were  poor  and  tedious.  Anything  like 
a  common  intercourse  was  for  quite  a  while  almost  im- 
possible. Life  was  for  a  long  time  individual  and  sepa- 
rate. There  was  nothing  to  stimulate  general  intel- 
ligence and  culture.  Wild  and  rugged  nature  had  to  be 
subdued ;  food  for  the  body  was  of  far  greater  impor- 
tance than  that  of  the  mind.  The  soil,  the  climate,  and 
sometimes  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  were  all  against 
education.^  Though  the  first  settlers  often  had  fine 
training  and  culture,  they  were  compelled  to  spend  their 
lives  in  more  active  and  heroic  measures  than  in  literature 
and  teaching.  The  entire  population  in  1728,  when  the 
Province  went  back  to  the  Crown,  was  not  more  than 
ten  thousand;^  and  by  1752  it  had  increased  only  to 
about  fifty  thousand."^  Town-building  never  has  taken 
much  hold  on  this  State.     There  was  not  a  single  one 


1.  Hawks'  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  299-300. 

2.  Wheeler's  Reminiscences,  p.  259. 

3.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  605. 

4.  Wheeler's  Reminiscences,  pp.  258-259. 

5.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  II.,  Prefatory  Notes. 

6.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,p.l73 ;  Martin  says  that  there  were  about  1.3,C00. 

7.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  p.  173 ;  Martin,  Vol.  II.,  p.  59, gives  only  45,000. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  13 

until  1704.  Bath  was  built  1704,  Newbern  1710,  Eden- 
ton  1714,  Beaufort  1723,  Brunswick  1725,  Wilmington 
1734,  Hillsboro  1759,  Fayetteville  (at  first  called  Camp- 
belltown,  afterwards  Cross  Creek)  1762,  Charlotte  and 
Salisbury  about  1758.^  None  of  these  had  as  many  as 
one  thousand  inhabitants  in  1750.  There  were  scarcely 
any  good  sea-ports  ;  and  in  consequence  commerce  was 
almost  unknown.  Manufacturing  was  not  known  at  all ; 
and  even   corn  and  wheat  mills  were  very  scarce. ^ 

However,  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century 
things  began  to  take  on  a  new  phase.  While  in  1752  the 
population  was  hardly  fifty  thousand,  yet  in  1790  there 
were  more  than  three  hundred  and  ninety-three  thou- 
sand. From  about  1750  to  1770  there  was  a  great  flow 
in  this  direction  ;  also  a  general  awakening  on  educa- 
tional matters.  The  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  came  in 
great  numbers  ;  and  with  them  came  deeper  and  more 
practical  ideas  of  religion  and  culture.  Before  or  as  early 
as  1740  they  had  begun  their  settlements  along  the  Eno, 
Haw  and  Catawba  rivers.^  In  1736  sixty-four  thousand 
acres  of  land  were  secured  in  Duplin  county  by  Henry 
McCulloch  for  settlers  from  Ulster,  Ireland.  These  were 
descendants  of  the  Scottish  folks  whom  James  I.  had  in- 
fluenced to  move  to  Ireland.  Ulster  saw  Scotch  and  Irish 
blood  mixed  together  ;  and  after  awhile  sent  this  new  life 
forth  in  search  of  new  lands  and  homes.  A  good  number 
came  to  this  State.  They  have  had  much  to  do  in  the 
political  and  industrial,  social  and  intellectual  growth. 
From  1730  to  1740  also  came  the  Scottish  Highlanders. 
They  settled  the  lower  Cape  Fear.  These  increased 
many  fold  after  the  fatal  battle  of  Culloden  Moor  in 
1746.     The  counties  of  Bladen,  Cumberland,  Robeson, 


1.  These  dates  are  taken  from  the  standard  histories. 

2.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  II.,  Prefatory  Notes. 

3.  Moore's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  I.,  p,  W. 


14  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Moore,  Richmond,  Harnett,  and  some  parts  of  Chatham 
and  Anson,  were  peopled  by  tliese.  About  1750  great 
numbers  of  the  Scotch-Irish  from  Ulster  came  to  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  and  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia. Those  in  the  South  soon  moved  toward  the  North  ; 
while  those  who  at  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania  came 
down  the  Blue  Ridge  to  North  Carolina.  Here  they  met 
and  settled  permanently. ^  The  present  counties  of 
Union,  Mecklenburg,  Gaston,  Cabarrus,  Lincoln,  Rowan, 
Catawba,  Iredell,  and  Guilford,  all  bear  many  of  the 
marks  of  their  life.  More  churches  were  built  up,  and 
these  assumed  more  energy.  Schools  became  their  right 
arm;  patriotism  was  stirred,  quickened  and  promul- 
gated .  The  Battle  of  the  Regulators ,  May  16th ,  1771 ,  and 
the  Meklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence  of  May 
20th,  1775,  are  some,  of  the  manifestations  of  the  life  of 
these  peoples. 2  The  Moravians  came  about  the  same 
time  ;  and  their  influence  upon  a  large  part  of  Forsyth 
and  Davidson  counties  has  been  very  strong.  Peace,  in- 
dustry, simplicity,  virtue  and  prosperity  have  been  their 
works  ;  churches  and  schools  have  been  vital  points  in 
their  life.^  In  1751  they  purchased  about  one  hundred 
thousand  (98,985)  acres  of  land  between  the  Dan  and 
Yadkin,  and  named  it  Wacovia  after  an  estate  of  Count 
Zinzendorff"  in  Austria.  Upon  this  tract  they  built  six 
towns:  Bethabara  (Old  Town),  Bethany,  Salem, 
Friedberg,  Friedland  and  Hope.  As  a  rule  when  the 
town  lot  was  laid  off,  in  the  middle  was  reserved  a  place 
for  a  church.*  These  peojDle  had  first  settled  in  Georgia 
as  early  as  1735  ;  and  they  settled  there  upon  the  condi- 
tion that  they  would  not  have  to  take  up  arms  and  fight. 

1.  Rev.  Jethro  Rumple,D.D.,  in  Home  Magazine,  Mar.  1881 ;  also  points  taken  from 
his  History  of  Rowan  county. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches  and  Carutlier's  Life  of  Caldwell  bring  out  these  points  in 
different  places. 

3.  Martin's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vo'.  I.,  Appendix,  p.  xxiv. 
i.    Ibid,  Vol.  I.,  Appendix,  pp.  xxxiii-xxxvii, 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  15 

This  promise  to  them  having  been  broken,  th3y  moved 
to  Pennsylvania  about  1739  or  1740  and  settled  Bethle- 
hem and  Nazareth.  From  there  they  came  to  North  Caro- 
lina for  a  freer  and  milder  clime. ^  With  them,  as  well 
as  with  the  Scotch-Irish  who  came  from  Pennsylvania, 
came  new  ideas  of  religion,  society,  schools  and  state 
government.  Many  Germans  besides  the  Moravians 
came  about  the  same  time.  They  began  coming  in  1750 
and  kept  it  up  till  about  1775.  These  Germans,  from 
whom  came  the  Lutheran  and  German  Reformed 
Churches,  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  Land  was  hard 
to  get  in  that  State,  while  Lord  Cartaret's  in  North  Caro- 
lina was  very  cheap.  Church  freedom  'was  also  limited 
there,  while  here  there  was  perfect  liberty  of  worship.^ 
So  that  much  of  the  middle  part  of  this  State  was  filled 
up  by  these  "  Pennsylvania  Dutch,"  a  very  industrious, 
economic,  thrifty  folk.-^  They  scattered  for  the  most 
part  along  either  side  of  the  Catawba  and  Yadkin  rivers. 
Alamance,  Guilford,  Davidson,  Row^an,  Cabarrus, 
Stanley,  Iredell,  Catawba  and  Lincoln  counties  owe  very 
much  of  their  condition  and  life  to  them.^  These 
people  are  worthy  of  great  consideration  ;  they  have 
formed  a  distinct  and  strong  element  in  our  life  and  his- 
tory. They  have  been  simple,  honest  farmers  ;  and  have 
always  been  opposed  to  living  in  towns  and  crowded 
conditions,  and  especially  to  church  interference,  partic- 
ularly on  the  part  of  the  Church  of  England.^  The 
Germans  who  settled  in  the  western  part  showed  them- 
selves very  different  on  this  point  to  the  Swiss  and  Ger- 
man Palatines  who  settled  near  New^bern  ;  these  were 
soon  absorbed  in  matters  religious  by  those  about  them. 

1.  Bernheim's  German  Settlements  and  Lutheran  Church  in  the  Carolinas,p.l.55. 

2.  Williamson's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  II.,  p.  71. 

3.  Bernheim's  German  Settlements  and  Lutheran  Church  in  the  Carolinas,  p. 
153. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  148. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  176, 


IQ  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

On  the  other  hand  those  in  the  west  have  always  kept 
their  own  forms  of  worship.  ^  For  a  long  time  they 
spoke  no  other  than  their  own  language  ;  they  read  the 
German  Bible  and  devotional  books. ^  They  have  cared 
little  for  intellectual  development  until  recently  ;  tena- 
ceous  to  the  creed  and  customs  of  their  fathers,  they 
kept  themselves  apart  from  the  ways  of  the  world  and 
out  of  politics.'^  Cleanliness,  order,  comfort  and  pros- 
perity have  always  been  their  characteristics.  Their 
churches  have  been  as  a  rule  in  the  country,  and  for  a 
long  time  they  were  poorly  supplied  with  preachers 
and  teachers.  While  these  people  have  not  had  so  much 
to  do  with  the  educational  interests  in  a  positive  way, 
their  example  has  had  great  influence  ;  and  it  is  for  this 
reason  that  they  have  been  spoken  of  somewhat  at 
length . 

The  Quakers  need  mentioning  more  fully.  They  have 
at  all  times  in  our  history  constituted  a  very  distinct 
I3art.  They  are  like  the  Germans  in  many  ways — in 
thrift  and  frugality,  in  energy  and  opposition  to  tyranny 
and  war  ;  also  like  them  in  their  tenacity  to  creed.  They 
have  been  a  quiet  and  peace  loving  element ;  bold  and 
aggressive  against  the  established  Church — the  leader  in 
religious  liberty  during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  as  the  Presbyterian  was  the  latter  half."^  They 
were  at  first  in  Perquimans  and  Pasquotank.  About 
1703  they  went  southwest ;  and  by  1760  are  found  in 
Hyde,  Beaufort,  Craven,  Carteret,  Jones,  Bladen,  Lenoir, 
Northampton,  Hertford,  Bertie  and  Halifax  counties.^ 
From  the  middle  of  the  century  to  about  1783  came 
a  new    element  from  New    Jersey,   Pennsylvania    and 


1.  Bernheim,  p.  179. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  154. 

3.  Ibid,  pp.  185-186. 

4.  Weeks'  Southern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  145, 

5.  Ibid,  pp.  86-88. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  17 

Nantucket's  Island. ^  They  settled  in  the  middle  part 
of  the  State — Guilford,  Alamance,  Chatham,  Randolph 
and  Surry.  Their  purpose  of  coming  was  in  the  main 
economic. 2  They  came  at  about  the  same  time  as  the 
Scotch-Irish  and  Germans  and  for  the  same  reasons. 
While  they  have  not  been  such  a  large  portion  of  our 
population,  however,  by  their  systematic  and  earnest 
life  and  decided  views  on  matters  religious  and  educa- 
tional, they  have  had  great  influence  in  shaping  the 
State's  sentiment  and  growth. 

The  writer  has  now  given  a  general  view  of  the  first 
settlement ;  and  has  traced  the  filling  up  of  the  different 
sections.  In  the  main  he  has  left  the  reader  to  draw  his 
own  conclusions  about  the  character  and  condition  of 
the  early  history  as  a  whole.  In  this  connection  it  is 
well  to  give  some  points  more  in  favor  of  our  early  life 
than  were  given  in  the  first  part  of  this  sketch.  Wheeler 
says  on  page  30  of  his  Historical  Sketches  :  *'  No  freer 
country  was  ever  organized  by  man.  Freedom  of  con- 
science ,  security  from  taxation  except  by  their  own  con- 
sent, were  their  first  objects.  The  emigrant  was  ex- 
empted from  taxation  for  a  year ;  every  emigrant  re- 
ceived a  bounty  of  land.  These  simple  laws  suited  a 
simple  f)eople,  who  were  as  free  as  the  air  of  their 
mountains  ;  and  when  oppressed  were  as  rough  as  the 
billows  of  the  ocean.  They  submitted  to  no  unjust  laws, 
they  bowed  the  knee  to  no  earthly  monarch.' '  Another 
historian  says  that  our  people  were  bent  upon  following 
their  own  views  in  civil  government  and  religion^  ;  and 
that  they  have  been  slow  to  change  their  convictions  and 
have  been  very  loyal  to  what  they  held  as  truth. ^  There 
was   some   religion,     but   it   was    local  and  not  widely 

1.  Weeks'  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  96. 

•2.  Ibid,  p.  96. 

8.  Moore's  History  of  North  Carolina,  Vol.  I.,  Introduction,  p.  xiv. 

4.  Ibid,  Vol.  I.,  Introduction,  p.  xv. 


18  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

felt.  There  was  some  learning ;  it  was  among  the  few. 
There  was  some  of  wealth  and  comfort ;  it  was  confined  to 
the  indolent  gentleman.  There  were  some  collections  of 
books,  but  these  were  private.  There  have  been  a  good 
many  churches  and  a  few  schools,  but  affairs  have  been 
too  different  and  scattered  to  be  deeply  moved  by  them. 
Sea-coasts,  lowlands,  rivers,  valleys,  hills  and  moun- 
tains; Churchmen,  Quakers,  Presbyterians,  Germans, 
Moravians,  Lutherans,  Baptists  and  Methodists  (the 
latter  two  not  being  of  great  force  until  the  19th  cen- 
tury)— all  have  had  their  distinct  influences  upon  our 
history,  especially  for  the  first  century  and  a  half.  We 
then  came  very  little  in  contact  with  the  outside  world  ; 
there  was  nothing  to  stir  us  up  or  polish  us.  We  be- 
came negligent,  indifi'erent  and  in  many  ways  rude  ;  we 
had  not  reached  the  industrial  stage  in  development — 
agriculture  and  hunting  were  our  means  of  support. 
The  Colonists  were  not  so  ignorant  as  they  were  unap- 
preciative  of  the  benefits  of  literature.  They  had  some 
books  as  early  as  1680.  In  1705  the  circulating  library, 
which  Rev.  Thomas  Bray,  D.  D.,  a  representative  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  had  given  the  Col- 
ony in  1700,  was  established  at  Bath.  It  was  intended 
for  the  clergy  and  was  made  up  of  religious  books  for 
the  most  part.^  The  collection  was  worth  about  one 
hundred  pounds. ^  Rev.  James  Adams,  another  repre- 
sentative of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  left 
his  library,  valued  at  about  ten  pounds,^  in  Currituck"* 
in  1710.  According  to  Dr.  S.  B.  Weeks,  there  was  one 
more  library— perhaps  two — in  the  beginning  of  the 
century.     He  thinks  that  Urmstone  about  1708  had  one 

1.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  II,   p.  119;  and  Weeks' Libraries  and  Literature,  pp. 
177-179. 

2.  Ibid,  Vol.  II,  p.  180. 

3.  Ibid,Vol.  II,p.  75. 

4.  Ibid,  Vol.  I,  p.  858. 

3  and  4  are  also  given  by  Weeks  in  his  Libraries  and  Literature,  pp.  185-18G, 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  19 

more  library — perhaps  two — in  the  beginning  of  the 
century.  He  thinks  that  Urmstone  about  1708  had  one 
of  some  size  and  value,  and  that  it  doubtless  followed 
him  around  in  his  work  ;  also  that  there  was  possibly 
one  belonging  to  Rainsford  in  1712. ^  In  the  Cape  Fear 
section  there  were  no  books  until  after  the  middle  of  the 
century.  About  1755  the  St.  James  Parish  received 
some  Bibles,  prayer-books  and  such  like  from  the 
Society. 2  This  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  ended 
its  existence  in  1776.  During  its  life  it  had  had  a  great 
influence  in  teaching  the  young  colony  ;  and  its  influ- 
ence was  as  much  educational  as  religious.  Dr.  Weeks 
thinks  that  it  sent  to  North  Carolina  as  many  as  six 
hundred  bound  volumes  and  about  two  hundred  pounds 
worth  of  tracts.  3 

In  1720  Edward  Moseley,  the  greatest  man  in  the 
Province  for  fifty  years,^  gave  tenpounds  to  the  Society 
for  buying  books,  but  it  seems  that  they  were  never 
bought.  In  1723  he  gave  also  seventy-six  volumes 
for  a  public  library  to  be  kept  at  Edenton,^  which  was 
for  a  long  time  the  center  of  culture.  His  own  private 
collection  was  large  for  that  time,  amounting  to  about 
four  hundred  volumes.^  The  Johnston  library,  which 
is  now  owned  by  Mr.  John  G.  Wood,  of  "Hayes,"  about 
one-half  a  mile  from  Edenton,  goes  back  to  times  as 
early  as  the  Moseley  collection.'^  There  are  evidences 
of  the  existence  of  several  other  private  libraries  in  the 
eastern  half  of  the  State:  Col.  James  Innes,  at  Point 
Pleasant,  near  Wilmington,  in  1759,  bequeathed  his 
library  to  a  free  school  ;^  John  Hodgson,  speaker  of  the 


1.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  pp.  185-186. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  186-187,  giving  as  his  auttiority,  Burr,  Sketch  of  St.  James  Parish, 
Wilmington,  pp.  18-22. 

3.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  p.  187. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  193. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  189. 

6.  Ibid.  p.  196. 

7.  Ibid,  p.  198. 

8.  Waddell's  A  Colonial  Officer  and  His  Times,  pp.  53-54. 


2lO  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

house  of  commons  in  1739  and  1741;  James  Iredell, 
a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
in  1790 — a  citizen  of  Chowan  county  ;  William  Hooper, 
the  signer,  who  lived  in  Wilmington  ;  Joseph  R. 
Gautier,  in  Bladen,  a  member  of  the  house  of  com- 
mons in  1791,  gave  his  valuable  collection  to  the 
University;^  Willie  Jones,  who  died  in  1801,  a  citi- 
zen of  Halifax  county,  had  a  fine  and  large  one;  and 
John  Burgwyn,  who  died  about  the  same  tinie  at  the 
''Hermitage,"  near  Wilmington. ^  There  were  doubt- 
less more.  Edenton,  Newbern  and  Wilmington,  in  the 
eastern  half  of  the  State,  were  centers  of  culture  ;  and  if 
the  whole  truth  were  known,  many  more  evidences  of 
early  training  and  education  in  and  around  these  places 
would  come  to  light.  Dr.  Weeks,  whose  statements  the 
writer  always  finds  true,  says  :  "I  think  it  accurate  to 
say  that  the  political  leaders  of  the  Colony  of  North  Car- 
olina at  the  time  of  the  Revolution  were  better  acquainted 
with  the  literature  of  their  times  than  the  leaders  of 
political  North  Carolina  are  to-day  with  either  contem- 
porary English  or  American  literature."^  This  was 
said  in  connection  with  the  English  life  and  culture  as 
found  in  the  eastern  part.  When  a  view  is  taken  of  the 
western,  with  Salisbury,  Charlotte  and  Fayetteville  as 
centers,  as  much  may  justly  be  said.  These  places  were 
dominated  by  the  Scotch-Irish  and  Scotch  elements  ;  and 
give  many  evidences  of  education,  culture  and  religion. 
They  had  both  libraries  and  schools.  These  libraries 
were  in  almost  every  case  jDrivate  :  Waighstill  Avery, 
who  settled  in  Charlotte  in  1769  ;  Rev.  David  Caldwell, 
D.  D.,  who  began  his  "log  college"  three  miles  north- 
west of  Greensboro  about  1767  ;  Rev.  James  Hall,  D.  D., 


1.  Battle's  Address  on  the  History  of  Raleigh,  p.  17. 

2.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  pp.  206-208;  a  good  many  of  the  points  on  the 
libraries  have  been  taken  from  him ;  Wheeler  has  also  been  consulted. 

8.    Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  p.  200. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTff-€^42ati^^ft.  21 


who  was  another  pioneer  of  religion  and  education ,  located 
in  Iredell ;  Rev.  John  Barr,  of  Rowan ;  Rev.  Lewis 
Fenilleteau  Wilson,  of  Iredell;  Rev.  Henry  Patillo,  of 
Orange;  Gen.  Joseph  Graham,  of  Lincoln;  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Eusebius  McCorkle,  D.  D.,  at  Thyatira.^  There 
were  a  few  public  or  circulating  libraries  after  the  Revo- 
lution :  Mecklenbi^rg,^  Iredell, ^  Thyatira,  founded  by 
Rev.  John  Barr;*  Centre  Benevolent  Society  of  Meck- 
lenburg and  Rowan.  5  These  libraries  have  been  spoken 
of  to  a  greater  extent  than  a  sketch  of  this  nature  and 
length  will  perhaps  justify.  The  intention  is  to  give 
that  which  will  most  clearly  present  the  educational  con- 
ditions. These  libraries  have  been  of  great  influence  in 
making  such  conditions  ;  and  the  conditions  have  made 
and  called  for  the  schools. 

THE  FIRST  SCHOOLS— CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND. 

The  first  report  of  any  schools  in  the  Province  is  from 
Dr.  John  Blair,  a  missionary  to  the  Colony  in  1704. 
From  his  reports  we  find  that  the  first  churches  had  lay- 
readers  to  supply  them  with  sermons.^  These  lay- 
readers  were  teachers  in  almost  every  case.  While  the 
Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  have  given  more  teachers  to 
the  State  than  any  other  church — more  than  all  the 
others  together  during  the  eighteenth  century — still  the 
first  assistance  to  intellectual  life  was  given  by  the 
Church  of  England."^  The  first  teacher  was  Charles 
GriflQn,  who  came  from  the  West  Indies  to  Pasquotank 
about  1705.^     His  school  was  very  prosperous  for  a  short 


1.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  pp.  214-216;   Caruther's  Life  of  Caldwell, 
Foote's  Sketches  and  Wheeler. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  248-249. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  380. 

4.  Weeks'  Libraries  and  Literature,  p.  221. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  221. 

6.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  I,  p,  601. 

7.  Brickell's  Natural  History,  p.  35. 

8.  Cheshire's  Sketches  of  Church  History  in  North  Carolina;  Paper  by  Rev.  R, 
B.  Drane,  pp.  163-164. 


22  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

while,  and  was  patronized  by  all  classes  and  churches. 
At  first  his  character  and  behavoir  were  so  fine  that  even 
the  Quakers  sent  to  him.^  He  tMight  in  Pasquotank 
till  about  1708.  In  Hawks'  History,  Vol.  II,  pp.  299- 
300,  is  given  a  copy  of  an  original  manuscript  letter 
from  Rev.  William  Gordon  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  dated  May  13, 1709. 
In  this,  after  giving  some  account  of  the  different  pre- 
cincts of  the  north-eastern  part,  (Chowan,  Perquimans, 
Pasquotank,  Currituck  and  Bath),  Mr.  Gordon  says: 
**The  next  precinct  is  Pasquotank,  where  as  yet  there  is 
no  church  built ;  the  Quakers  are  here  very  numerous ; 
the  roads  are,  I  think,  the  worst  in  the  county  ;  but  it  is 
closer  settled  than  others,  and  better  peopled  in  propor- 
tion to  its  bigness.  In  their  way  of  living  they  have 
much  the  advantage  of  the  rest,  being  more  industrious, 
careful  and  cleanly  ;  but  above  all  I  was  surprised  to  see 
with  what  order,  decency  and  seriousness  they  performed 
the  public  worship,  considering  how  ignorant  the  people 
are  in  other  parishes.  This  we  owe  to  the  care  of  one 
Mr.  Griffin,  who  came  here  from  some  part  of  the  West 
Indies,  and  has  for  three  years  past  lived  amongst  them, 
being  appointed  reader  by  their  vestry,  whose  diligent 
and  devout  example  has  improved  them  so  far  beyond 
their  neighbors,  and  by  his  discreet  behavior  has  gained 
such  good  character  and  esteem  that  the  Quakers  them- 
selves send  their  children  to  his  school,  though  he  has 
prayers  twice  a  day  at  least,  and  obliges  them  to  their 
responses,  and  all  the  other  decencies  of  behavior  as 
well  as  others."  In  1708  Rev.  James  Adams  moved  to 
Pasquotank  and  took  charge  of  the  school, ^  and  Mr. 
Griffin  went  to  the  precinct  and  Parish  of  Chowan. 
Here  he  became  lay-reader  of  the  church  and  clerk  of 


1,  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  I.,  p.  714. 

2,  Ibid,  Vol.  I,  p.  714. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  23 

the  vestry  ;  also  opened  a  school.  He  was  selected  for 
the  above  duties  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Gordon  and 
received  for  his  work  for  the  church  and  vestry  twenty 
pounds  a  year.  ^  It  seems  that  his  school  here  did  not 
succeed  very  well.  From  the  records  of  that  time,  one 
would  suppose  that  he  became  a  Quaker  and  sinner  ;2 
his  school  here  lasted  but  a  short  while  at  any  rate.  Of 
Mr.  Adams'  school  in  Pasquotank  nothing  is  known. 
In  1712  a  Mr.  Mashburn  had  a  little  school  at  Sarum,  on 
the  border  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  The  Indians 
also  attended  this  school.^  Rev.  G.  Rainsford,  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  Province,  says  of  the  school,  writing  July 
25,  1712,  that  the  teacher  was  well  deserving  of  encour- 
agement and  that  he  should  be  given  a  salary ;  that  the 
pupils  under  his  care  could  read  and  write,  and  had  the 
principles  of  the  christian  religion  ;  that  the  Bible  had 
been  one  of  his  text  books. ^ 

These  schools  of  Griffin,  Adams  and  Mashburn  are  the 
only  ones  under  the  proprietors  of  which  there  is  any 
record.  One  would  judge  that  they  cared  nothing  for 
schools  or  churches,  but  only  for  taxes.  For  some  time 
after  the  Province  went  back  to  the  Crown  local  schools 
were  unknown.  The  wealthy  planters  sent  their  sons  to 
England  or  Harvard,  or  had  tutors  in  their  own  homes. 
The  next  school  is  found  in  New  Hanover.  Rev.  James 
Moir,  a  representative  of  the  Society  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel,  at  Brunswick,  in  1745,  used  the  down  stairs 
of  his  house  for  a  chapel  and  school-room. ^ 

In  1759  Col.  James  Innes  died  at  Wilmington.  By 
his  will,  which  was  made  in   1754  and  proved  before 


1.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  I,  p.  6S1. 

2.  Ibid,  Vol.  I,  p.  721. 

3.  Ibid,  Vol.  I,  p.  859.  Dr.  Charles  L.  Smith  gives  his  name  as  Washburn  (p,  17, 
History  of  Education  in  North  Carolina),  but  he  must  be  mtstaken;  WeeJjs  and 
Drane  both  give  it  as  Mashburn. 

4.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  I,  p.  859;  also  quoted  by  Smith  (p.  17)  and  Drane  (p.  165). 

5.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  IV,  p.  755 ;  also  Drane— Church  History,  p.  166. 


24  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Gov.  Dobbs  at  Newbern  in  1759,  his  plantation,  Point 
Pleasant,  near  Wilmington,  his  large  personal  estate, 
his  library  and  one  hundred  pounds  sterling  were  given 
for  the  use  of  a  school.  This  was  the  first  gift  for  educa- 
tional purposes  in  the  State.  The  trustees  were  :  ''The 
Colonel  of  the  New  Hanover  regiment,  the  parson  of 
Wilmington  Church,  and  the  vestry  for  the  time  being, 
or  a  majority  of  them."  Not  very  much  was  recovered 
from  his  property  for  school  purposes,  as  the  houses 
were  burned.  However,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
1783  the  Innes  Academy  was  started  on  foot ;  and  it  was 
kept  up  for  some  time  by  private  subscriptions. ^  About 
1763  a.  school  for  the  higher  education  of  the  youth  was 
kept  at  Bandon,  about  fifteen  miles  above  Edenton  on 
the  Chowan  river,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Earl  and  his  daugh- 
ter. Miss  Nancy.  The  course  included  Latin,  Greek, 
English  branches  and  Mathematics.  Mr.  Earl  was  at 
the  same  time  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Parish  of  Chowan; 
and  his  school  had  quite  a  good  deal  of  influence  in  pro- 
moting correct  principles  of  religion. ^ 

NEWBERN    ACADEMY. 

In  1764  the  school  idea  took  hold  of  Newbern,  and 
provisions  were  at  once  made  for  opening  one  there. 
This  school  has  been  claimed  as  a  State  institution  by 
some ;  by  others  it  has  been  considered  as  purely  a 
church  enterprise.  The  truth  seems  to  be  that  it  has 
some  of  both  in  its  history,  but  that  for  the  most  part  it 
was  a  church  or  private  school.  The  first  mention  of 
this  is  an  act  by  the  Assembly  of  1764,  by  which  a  school 
building  was  to  be  erected  on  the  church  property  by 


1.  See  Waddell's  A  Colonial  Officer  and  His  Times,  pp.  53-54.  This  is  given  by 
Weeks  in  his  Libraries  and  Literature,  p.  206.  Drane  also  gives  it,  but  states  that 
the  gift  was  made  in  1754.    The  will  was  made  in  1754,  but  not  proved  till  1759. 

2.  Drane— Church  History,  pp.  168-109. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  25 

private  subscription.  ^  Mr.  Drane  quotes  from  a  letter 
of  Rev.  James  Reed  to  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel,  dated  June,  1764 :  *'We  have  now  a  prospect  of 
a  very  flourishing  school  in  the  town  of  New  Berne.     In 

December  last  Mr.  Tomliuson  came  here and, 

on  the  first  of  January,  he  opened  a  school  in  this  town 
and  immediately  got  as  many  scholars  as  he  could 
instruct ;  and  many  more  have  lately  off'ered  than  he 
could  possibly  take,  to  do  them  justice.  He  has  there- 
fore wrote  to  his  friends  in  England  to  send  him  an 
assistant." 2  The  next  year  the  people  of  Newbern  peti- 
tioned Governor  Tryon  to  get  the  Society  to  give  Mr. 
Tomlinson  a  salary  for  teaching  their  children  useful 
knowledge  and  the  principles  of  the  Church  of  England.^ 
The  Society  made  the  grant,  and  gave  him  ten  pounds 
that  year  and  fifteen  for  the  next.*  Mr.  Drane  thinks 
that  this  fifteen  pounds  became  a  regular  annual  stipend. 
A  new  building  was  doubtless  completed  by  1766.  At  this 
time  the  school  was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition.  The 
preamble  to  the  act  of  the  Assembly  says  :  ''Whereas,  a 
number  of  well  disposed  persons ,  taking  into  consideration 
the  great  necessity  of  having  a  school  established,  whereby 
the  rising  generation  may  be  brought  up  and  instructed 
in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  Religion  and  fitted  for 
the  several  offices  and  purposes  of  life,  have,  at  a  great 
expense,  erected  and  built,  in  the  town  of  New  Berne,  a 
convenient  house  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  ;  and  being 
desirous  that  the  same  may  be  established  by  law  on  a 
permanent  footing,  so  as  to  answer  the  good  purposes  of 
the  said  persons  intended,  therefore  trustees  were  to  be 
elected  to  whom  a  charter  should  be  given.  "^ 


1.  Drane— Church  History,  p.  169. 

2.  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  VI,  p.  1048. 

3.  Drane— Church  History,  pp.  169-170. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  170. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  170. 


26  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

A  provision  was  made  for  a  tax  on  rum,  in  order  to  raise 
twenty  pounds  a  year  for  the  master  and  his  assistant.  In 
return  for  this  money  the  teacher  admitted  ten  poor 
children  free  of  tuition,  upon  the  advice  of  the  trustees. 
It  was  required  that  the  master  be  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  well  as  be  licensed-  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. ^  This  school  was  begun  as  a  private  and  church 
affair  ;  and  so  it  remained.  The  provision,  by  which  the 
institution  received  a  penny  a  gallon  for  all  tha  rum 
imported  and  in  return  gave  free  .tuition  to  ten  poor 
children,  was  but  a  trade  and  did  not  take  it  from  the 
hands  of  the  Church.  The  Trustees,  appointed  in  1764, 
were  :  Rev.  James  Reed,  rector  of  the  Parish,  John  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  Leech,  Thomas  Clifford  Howe,  Thomas 
Haslen,  Richard  Cogdell  and  Richard  Fenner.^  The 
ground  for  the  school  purposes  was  taken  from  the 
church  yard.  Rev.  James  Reed  w^as  the  chief  mover  in 
all  this  educational  movement  and  work ;  his  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  original  trustees  ;  and  also  at 
the  head  of  the  thirty-nine  leading  citizens  who  peti- 
tioned Governor  Tryon  to  secure  an  annual  stipend  for 
the  teacher,  Mr.  Tomlinson.  It  was  he  who  obtained 
and  collected  the  subscriptions.^  The  building  was 
forty-five  feet  long  and  thirty  wide.  Mr.  Tomlinson, 
who  began  work  in  this  new  house  about  1766,  taught  to 
the  satisfaction  and  benefit  of  his  fellowmen  for  several 
years.  According  to  statements  of  both  Governor  Tryon 
and  Mr.  Reed,  he  was  the  only  person  of  his  profession 
who  had  good  repute  and  could  run  a  school  success- 
fully in  the  colony  ;  he  was  also  a  good  collector  of 
tuition  bills.  In  1765  he  had  thirty  pupils,  from  whom 
he  received  twenty  shillings  by  the  quarter  in  proclama- 


1.  Drane— Church  History,  p.  170, 

2.  Sketches  of  Church  History  in  North  Carolina,  note  by  the  Editor,  Rt.  Rev 
J.  B.  Cheshire,  Jr.,  T>.  D.,  p.  172. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  173. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  27 

tion  money.  This  was  increased  by  the  grant  from  the 
Society.  In  1766  he  w^s  given  twelve  pounds  for  acting 
as  lay-reader  during  the  absence  of  Mr.  Reed.^  The 
income  from  the  rum  tax  turned  out  to  be  more  than 
was  ever  expected.  In  1768  it  brought  to  the  trustees 
something  like  sixty  pounds.  There  was  also  another 
source  of  income.  The  two  half  lots  from  the  church  yard, 
which  belonged  to  the  school,  were  leased  for  twenty-one 
years  and  the  money  from  them  went  annually  to  the 
school  fund.  The  first  board  of  trustees  was  under  the 
influence  of  Mr.  Reed  and  the  Church.  When  the  new^ 
one  came  in,  which  was  not  long  after  the  real  beginning 
of  the  institution,  they,  to  a  large  extent,  cut  themselves 
loose  from  the  Church's  jurisdiction  ;  and  in  consequence 
some  difficulties  soon  arose. ^  However,  the  school  still 
continued  as  a  church  institution  ;  and  its  prosperity  for 
some  time  was  rather  marked.  The  first  assistant,  as 
far  as  there  is  any  record,  was  Mr.  James  McCartney. 
He  served  from  the  beginning  of  the  year  1767  till  May 
1768 .  In  the  Academy  building  were  held  the  Assemblies 
of  1768,  '69,  70  and  '71.  For  the  first  year  twenty 
pounds  were  given  for  its  use  ;  and  afterwards  the  amount 
was  increased  to  forty.  In  1772  the  Trustees  had  some 
trouble  with  Mr.  Tomlinson  and  dismissed  him.  Mr. 
Reed  took  his  part  and  defended  him  strongly  ;  and  in 
his  defense  said  that  he  had  been  a  great  teacher  in 
every  respect.  Mr.  Tomlinson,  however,  was  not  rein- 
stated and  moved  to  Rhode  Island.  His  leaving  was 
with  much  regret  on  the  part  of  the  Society,  at  least,  as 
they  gave  him  a  farewell  gift  of  fifteen  pounds. ^  He 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  professional  teacher  in  North 
Carolina.  His  influence  upon  a  large  section  of  the 
country  around  Newbern  was  great. 

1.  Church  History,  note  by  the  Editor,  p.  174, 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  174-175. 
8.    Ibid,  p.  176. 


28  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

From  the  time  he  left  till  about  1792  it  is  difficult 
to  say  who  taught,  or  whether  any  one.  It  seems 
rather  probable  that  Dr.  Solomon  Hailing,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  a  physician  by  pro- 
fession, was  teaching  in  the  Academy  in  1792,  when 
he  was  ordained  deacon.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
force,  and  served  with  much  acceptance  the  Church 
in  Newbern  until  his  removal  to  Wilmington  in 
1795.  Whether  he  was  also  teacher  from  1792  to  1795 
we  have  no  records.  Among  the  subscribers  to  Francis 
Xavier  Martin's  Private  Statutes  of  North  Carolina,  pub- 
lished in  1795,  the  name  of  Thomas  Pitt  Irving,  A.  M., 
Principal  of  Newbern  Academy,  is  found.  How  long  he 
had  been  principal  before  this  is  unknown.  During  his 
term  the  old  building  of  Mr.  Reed's  was  burned  ;i  so  also 
was  Try  on 's  Palace,  which  was  used  as  the  school  house 
after  the  destruction  of  the  Academy.  He  does  not  seem 
to  have  had  much  force.  He  remained  in  charge  of  the 
Church  until  1813 ;  whether  he  was  teacher  in  the 
Academy  so  long  we  cannot  say.  It  is  very  probable 
that  there  was  no  school  for  some  time  after  the  burn- 
ing of  the  Tryon  Palace.  Dr.  Vass,  in  his  His- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newbern,  says  on 
page  75  that  the  present  brick  building  was  erected  in 
1806.  The  writer  finds  no  record  of  any  school  between 
this  time  and  the  burning  of  the  Palace.  He  also  states 
that  Gaston,  Badger,  Stanley,  Spaight,  Hawks,  and 
many  others  equally  as  great,  were  educated  in  the  older 
building.  This  brings  the  eighteenth  century  part  to  a 
close.  However,  as  the  history  of  the  school  is  in  the 
main  continuous,  the  nineteenth  century  part  will  also 
be  given  in  this  connection.  Rev.  George  Strebeck  took 
charge  of  both  the  pulpit  and  the  school  room  in  1813. 
He  had  as  an  assistant  in  1814  Mr.  John  Phillips.     They 

1.    Cheshire— Church  History,  Decay  and  Revival,  p.  258. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  29 

both  left  about  1815.  In  1816  Rev.  Jehu  Curtis  Clay 
took  charge  of  both  the  school  and  Church.^  Rev. 
Edward  B.  Freeman,  D.  D.,  was  principal  1818-1819. 
He  filled  the  same  place  some  years  before,  but  the 
writer  has  not  been  able  to  find  out  when  or  how  long. 
He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Fredrick  Freeman.  The  school 
was  then  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  there  being 
almost  two  hundred  pupils.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Robert  G.  Moore  ;  and  he  in  turn  gave  place  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liam B.  Wadsworth,  who  held  it  for  several  years.  So 
far  as  can  be  ascertained  he  gave  up  the  work  about 
1834.  Mr.  Edward  Hughes  was  then  principal  for  some 
time.  Messrs.  Mayhew,  Gordon  and  Bryant  guided  the 
institution  to  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  Gor- 
don was  principal  for  about  two  years  ;  the  other  two 
were  in  control  for  quite  a  while  each,  and  both  suc- 
ceeded well.  2 

EDENTON    ACADEMY. 

Edenton  came  right  along  with  Newbern  in  educational 
ideals  and  works.  As  early  as  1770  two  lots  had  been 
bought  and  a  house  built.  During  this  year  the  school 
was  chartered,  according  to  which  the  teacher  was  to  be 
a  Churchman. 3  The  money  for  the  building  was  obtained 
by  private  subscription.  Joseph  Blount,  Joseph  Hewes, 
Robert  Hardy,  Thomas  Jones,  George  Blair,  Richard 
Brownrigg  and  Samuel  Johnston  were  the  first  trustees. 
These  were  all  Churchmen,  members  of  St.  Paul's  Parish. 
The  school  in  this  place  was  very  much  like  the  one  in 
Newbern,  though  it  never  received  any  money  from  the 
State  Government.     The  teacher  and  minister  sometimes 


1.  Cheshire— Church  History,  Decay  and  Revival,  p.  259. 

2.  Letter  from  Col.  John  D.  Whitford,  of  Newbern. 

3.  Drane — Church  History,  p.  171. 


30  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

interchanged  their  work  here.  The  requirement  that 
the  teacher  had  to  be  a  Churchman  was  not  carried  out. 
Messrs.  Pettigrew  and  Freeman  were  Presbyterian 
preachers  when  they  took  charge;  and  Mr.  Avery, 
another  teacher,  was  a  member  of  the  Congregation 
Church.  1  As  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth  century  parts 
of  the  history  of  this  school  are  so  closely  connected,  they 
will  be  considered  together,  as  in  the  case  of  the  one  at 
Newbern.  Mr.  Pettigrew,  at  first  a  Presbyterian  preacher, 
had  charge  in  1773  ;  and  it  seepas  that  he  continued 
principal  till  his  death  in  1808.  Then  Pev.  Jonathan 
Otis  Freeman,  a  brother  of  Bishop  Freeman,  took 
charge.  During  the  year  1809  the  Trustees  paid  him 
six  hundred  dollars  for  his  services  in  the  Academy  and 
four  hundred  ''for  delivering  lectures  to  the  students  on 
the  Sabbath."  He  was  a  man  of  fine  ability, and  cul- 
ture ;  and  had  great  influence  upon  his  community.  In 
1811  he  turned  over  both  the  Church  and  Academy  to 
Rev.  Fredrick  W.  Hatch,  of  Maryland.  He  received  the 
same  salary  for  the  first  year.  At  the  end  of  1811  he 
gave  up  the  school-room  to  Mr.  John  Avery,  though  he 
continued  as  preacher  till  1815.  Mr.  Avery  became  lay- 
reader  in  1815,  and  soon  afterward  turned  his  entire 
attention  to  the  ministry.  ^  He  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts ;  went  to  Williams'  College,  afterwards  to  Yale, 
where  he  graduated  in  1812.  Though  a  son  of  a  Congre- 
gation deacon,  he  became  a  Churchman  soon  after  he 
took  charge  of  the  Academy.  He  was  ordained  deacon 
in  1817  and  priest  in  1818  ;  and  continued  as  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  of  Edenton,  until  1835.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  learning,  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all.^ 
Both  the  Newbern  and  Edenton  academies  had  much 


1,  Drane — Church  History,  note  by  the  Editor,  p.  179. 

2.  Cheshire — Church  History,  Decay  and  Revival,  p.  256. 
8.    Ibid,  p.  257. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  31 

to  do  in  the  political,  social,  intellectual  and  religious 
development  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  ;  they  were 
the  sources  of  life  and  light  for  a  long  while.  The  early 
history  of  the  State  was  to  a  large  extent  in  the  hands  of 
the  men  of  the  east ;  and  these  had  come  in  contact 
with  such  centers.  Bishop  Cheshire  says,  in  his  note  to 
Drane's  paper  on  the  Colonial  Parishes  and  Church 
Schools  :  ''If  the  roll  of  the  pupils  of  these  two  academies 
could  be  recovered,  and  if  the  story  of  their  influence 
upon  the  public  men  of  North  Carolina  from  1790-1835 
could  be  fully  told,  it  would  probably  be  found  that  only 
the  University  of  the  State  has  had  a  greater  effect  in 
our  hiscory  than  these  two  Colonial  Schools."  ^ 

THE    EARLY    PRESBYTERIAN    SCHOOLS. 

As  has  already  been  mentioned,  these  schools  played  a 
very  important  part  in  the  early  culture  and  life  of  the 
State .  The  Presbyterians  were  leaders  of  intellectual  and 
religious  growth  during  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  They  introduced  a  new  life  principle,  and  gave 
vigor  and  enthusiasm  to  many  sections,  especially  in 
those  along  the  Cape  Fear  river  and  in  Guilford,  Ala- 
mance, Orange,  Rowan,  Cabarrus,  Mecklenburg  and 
Iredell  counties.  They  were  a  restless  and  energetic 
people,  and  taught  and  loved  patriotism.  Many  of  the 
first  conflicts  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province  and 
the  royal  Governors  took  place  among  them.^  They 
have  been  more  thoroughly  devoted  to  education  than 
any  other  denomination.  It  has  meant  life  as  well  as 
light  to  them  ;  it  has  made  them  independent  and  patri- 
otic, strong  and  noble.  They  were  really  our  first 
teachers,  and  during  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth 

1.  Church  History,  p,  179. 

2.  See  Fooifc's  Sketches  and  Caruther's  Life  of  Caldwell. 


32  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

century  they  were  well  nigh  our  only  ones.  While  the 
Church  of  England  furnished  some,  still  taking  the  whole 
Colony  into  consideration,  it  was  the  Presbyterian  who 
preached,  and  governed  the  school-room.  In  almost 
every  case  when  a  church  was  organized  a  school  soon 
became  a  permanent  fixture  ;  and  the  preacher  was  the 
teacher.  1  As  proof  of  the  above  assertion  Sugar  Creek, 
Poplar  Tent,  Centre,  Bethany,  Buffalo,  Thyatira,  Grove, 
Wilmington  and  the  churches  of  Henry  Patillo  in  Orange 
and  Granville  counties,  all  had  schools  taught  by  the 
pastor.  2 

In  these  schools  as  well  as  in  the  churches  the  college 
of  New  Jersey  (or  Nassau  Hall,  now  called  Princeton 
College)  had  great  influence.  Look  over  the  roll  of  most 
of  the  great  characters  of  this  State  during  the  last  cen- 
tury, and  one  will  find  a  very  large  number  of  them 
graduates  or  students  of  this  famous  institution  ;  it  was 
the  never  failing  source  of  life  and  light  to  this  dark 
Colony.  Dr.  Charles  L.  Smith  gives  three  full  pages  to 
its  influence;^  and  much  more  could  be  written.  In 
this  sketch,  however,  only  the  principal  names  will  be 
mentioned.  Rev.  Hugh  McAden,  of  the  class  of  1753,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  here  in  1755  and  became 
the  real  founder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  State 
and  much  of  the  South. ^  Alexander  Martin,  a  Colonel 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  Governor  in  1782  and  again 
in  1789,  Senator  in  United  States  Senate  from  1793  to 
1799 ,  was  educated  there.  ^  Rev .  Alexander  McWhorter , 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  came  to  Charlotte  as  presi- 
dent of  Liberty  Hall  Academy  in  1780,  was  of  the  class 


1.  See  Foote's  Sketches  for  these  general  statements  about  the  Presbyterian 
Schools. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  513. 

3.  Smith's  History  of  Education  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  23-26. 

4.  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  158-160. 

5.  Smith's  History  of  Education,  p.  24;  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches,  Vol.  II> 
pp.  181-182. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  33 

of  1757.^  Rev.  Joseph  Alexander,  the  preacher  and 
teacher  of  Sugar  Creek  for  some  time  after  1766  and  the 
promoter  of  Queen's  Museum,  was  of  the  class  of  1760. ^ 
Rev.  David  Caldwell,  the  great  preacher  and  teacher  of 
Guilford  county,  was  of  the  class  of  1761. ^  Ephraim  Bre- 
vard, M.  D.,  and  Waighstill  Avery,  Esq.,  the  first  the 
great  and  leading  spirit  of  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration 
of  Independence  and  the  second  a  promoter  of  education 
and  culture,  were  of  the  classes  of  1768  and  1766.*  Isaac 
Alexander,  M.  D.,  at  one  time  president  of  Liberty  Hall 
Academy,  of  the  class  of  1772  ;5  Rev.  James  Hall,  of 
Clio's  Nursery,  1774;  William  R.  Davie  and  Nathaniel 
Alexander,  Governors  of  the  State  1798  and  1805,^  of  the 
class  of  1776 ;  Rev.  Joseph  Caldwell,  D.  D.,  president  of 
the  University  of  North  Carolina  from  1797-1812  and 
1816-1835,  of  the  class  of  1791  ;^  Judge  William  Gaston, 
perhaps  our  most  illustrious  jurist,  of  the  class  of  1796.^ 
These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  strong  characters  in 
our  early  history  who  were  educated  there. 

In  this  connection  the  efforts  of  the  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  Synods  should  be  mentioned.  The  first 
churches  and  schools  in  most  of  the  Colony  were  due  to 
their  worthy  missionary  works.  Many  Presbyterians 
had  come  to  North  Carolina  before  they  began  to  con- 
sider this  as  missionary  territory.  Among  those  who 
first  came  there  were  very  few  who  had  fine  education  or 
culture.  The  Synods  of  the  North  saw  their  opportunity 
and  sent  to  this  and  others  of  the  Southern  Colonies 
enthusiastic  and  learned  preachers  and  teachers  ;  and  it 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  514. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  513;  Smith,  p.  24. 

3.  Caruther's  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  19. 

4.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  515 ;  Smith,  p.  24. 

5.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  322. 

6.  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches,  Vol.  I,  p.  98. 

7.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  538. 

8.  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches,  Vol.  II,  p.  114. 


34  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

was  this  new  element  that  gave  such  life  to  the  middle 
part  of  North  Carolina.^ 

When  we  come  to  decide  upon  the  oldest  of  these 
schools  much  uncertainty  and  difficulty  are  met  with. 
The  fact  seems  to  be  that  several  of  them  were  begun 
about  the  same  time.  Foote,  on  page  513  of  his  Sketches, 
says  that  the  one  within  the  bounds  of  the  Sugar  Creek 
congregation  seems  to  be  the  oldest.  Rev.  Alexander 
Craighead  was  pastor  from  Sept.  2, 1757  to  March,  1766. ^ 
Rev.  Joseph  Alexander,  a  relative  of  the  McKnitt  Alex- 
anders, was  his  successor.  He  was  licensed  by  New 
Castle  Presbytery  in  1767,  and  during  October  of  the 
same  year  he  accepted  the  call  to  Sugar  Creek. ^  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  very  fine  scholar,  a  graduate  of  the 
class  of  1760  at  Nassau  Hall.  Foote  says  that  he  in 
connection  with  a  Mr.  Benedict  taught  a  classical  school 
of  high  excellence.*  How  long  this  school  was  kept  here 
there  is  no  record  ;  nor  could  it  have  begun  sooner  than 
1768.  Mr.  Alexander  went  from  Sugar  Creek  to  Bul- 
lock's Creek,  South  Carolina,  and  remained  there  a  long 
time  as  preacher  and  teacher  ;  and  had  the  reputation 
of  being  a  great  teacher.  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  son 
of  Dr.  David  Caldwell,  of  Guilford,  became  pastor  of 
Sugar  Creek  and  Hopewell  early  in  1792  ;^  and  there  is 
no  record  of  another  pastor  between  him  and  Mr.  Alex- 
ander. So  that  it  is  rather  probable  that  the  school  here 
was  run  for  some  time  after  its  beginning.  As  this 
school  could  not  have  begun  earlier  than  1768,  Foote  is 
mistaken  in  supposing  it  the   first  of  the  Presbyterian 


1. 

See  Foote  and  Caruthers  for  these  general  statements. 

2. 

Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  18G-192. 

8. 

Ibid,  pp.  193-194. 

4. 

Ibid,  p.  194. 

5. 

Ibid,  p.  194. 

SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  35 

schools.  He  liimself  says  that  Rev.  James  Tate  estab- 
lished a  classical  school  in  Wilmington  in  1760/  the 
first  ever  opened  in  that  town.  He  taught  here  for 
eighteen  years,  and  educated  and  influenced  many  of  the 
young  men  of  New  Hanover  who  took  such  an  active 
part  against  the  British  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
His  pi'inci])les  were  so  strong  and  his  patriotism  for  his 
adopted  country  so  true,  being  an  Irishman,  that  he  left 
here  during  the  Revolution  and  went  to  Hawfields, 
Orange  county.  While  he  taught  for  his  living,  he  also 
preached  for  many  of  his  faith  through  New  Hanover 
and  the  surrounding  counties.  He  was  a  very  striking 
personality  and  had  great  influence  wherever  lie  went.^ 

CROWFIELD. 

During  the  same  year  (1760)  another  school  was  begun 
in  Centre  congregation  ;  and  many  claim  this  as  the  first. 
This  congregation  w^as  very  large  at  first,  filled  a  broad 
area  from  the  Yadkin  to  the  Catawba.  It  had  within 
its  bounds  many  of  the  greatest  men  of  our  early  history — 
the  Brevards,  Osbornes  and  Davidsons.^  Rev.  James 
McRee,  D.  D.,  a  graduate  of  Nassau  Hall,  of  the  class  of 
1775,  was  its  pastor  from  1798  to  about  1828.  Davidson 
College  was  built  and  still  has  its  location  in  this  charge. 
The  name  of  the  school  was  Crowfield.  Rev.  Jethro 
Rumple  in  his  History  of  Rowan  County,  in  speaking  of 
Rev.  Alexander  Craighead  establishing  Thyatira,  Fourth 
Creek  and  Centre  churches,  says  that  there  were  ''old- 
field"  schools  in  these  charges  as  early  as  1758  ;  and  that 
by  1760  there  w^as  a  classical  school  at  Belle  Mont,  the 
old  manor  of  Col.   Alexander   Osborne,  by  the  name  of 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  178. 

2.  Ibid.  p.  178. 

3.  Ibid,  pp,  im-rsi. 


36  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Crowfield  Academy.^  This  school  was  about  two  and 
one-half  miles  north-east  of  the  present  site  of  Davidson 
College,  in  the  lower  end  of  Iredell  county,  at  the  head 
waters  of  Rocky  river  and  within  the  bounds  of  Centre 
church. 2  It  continued  for  twenty  years,  until  the  British 
invasion  in  1780  broke  it  up.^  Some  of  the  most  learned 
men  of  the  time  conducted  this  school :  Rev.  David 
Kerr,  a  graduate  of  the  Dublin  University,  who  was 
later  a  Professor  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina ; 
Dr.  Charles  Caldwell,  who  afterwards  became  a  Professor 
in  a  medical  school  in  Philadelphia.^  Dr.  David  Cald- 
well is  said  to  have  taught  here  a  short  while  before  he 
began  his  work  in  Guilford.^  The  statement,  however, 
is  not  well  established. 

Many  great  characters  were  educated  here  ;  its  influ- 
ence was  deej)  and  wide.  Students  came  even  from  the 
West  Indies.^  Mr.  Leazer  says:  "Here  in  this  institu 
tion  were  moulded  the  minds  of  some  of  the  bravest 
spirits  and  strongest  men  of  that  or  any  day  and  gener- 
ation, the  men  who  made  glorious  history  and  gave 
original  direction  to  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  policy  of 
the  embryo  nation.  H^re  were  educated  Dr.  McRee, 
the  scholarly  divine;  Dr.  James  Hall,  the  learned  and 
military  parson  ;  Dr.  McCorkle  one  of  the  foremost  edu- 
cators the  country  has  ever  produced;  Col.  Adlai 
Osborne,  the  wise  counsellor  and  able  defender  of  the 
people's  rights;  Dr.  Ephraim  Brevard,  the  heaven-in- 
spired author  of  the  Historic  Declaration,  and  probably 
Hugh   Law^son   White,   a  prominent  candidate   for  the 

1.  History  of  Rowan  County,  p.  82. 

2.  Rev.  E.  F.  Rockwell,  D.  D.,  m  North  Carolina  Journal  of  Education,  July, 1859, 
pp.  204-20G. 

8.    Foote's  Sketches,  p.  484. 

4.  Address  to  the  Alumni    of  Davidson  College  by  Hon.  A.  Leazer,  June,  1887, 
Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  5. 

5.  Rumple's  History  of  Rowan  County,  p.  84. 

6.  Address  hy  Leazer,  p,  G. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  37 

Presidency  of  the  United  States  in  1836;' ^  These 
assertions  will  perhaps  be  considered  too  high  praise. 
Admitting  that  there  may  be  some  of  flattery  in  them, 
still  there  is  very  much  of  truth.  The  writer  finds  that 
Dr.  Rumple,  in  his  History  of  Rowan  County,  page  84, 
fully  approves  of  such  statements;  also  that  Dr.  Rock- 
well, Journal  of  Education,  July,  1859,  gives  equally  as 
strong  praise,  and  to  tlie  number  given  adds  :  Dr.  Alex- 
ander Osborne,  Dr.  William  Houston,  Professor  in  Nas- 
sau Hall,  Adam  Springs,  E.  J.  Osborne,  Dr.  Charles 
Harris,  Rev.  James  McKnight,  Rev.  Josiah  Lewis,  and 
John  Carrigan.  Foote  gives  the  name  of  another  prin- 
cipal of  this  school,  Mr.  McEwin.^ 

caldw^ell's  log  college. 

The  next  school  in  order  of  time  was  Caldwell's  *'Log 
College,"  which  began  in  1766  or  1767,  about  the  same 
time  as  the  one  in  Sugar  Creek  Congregation.  In  order 
of  importance  and  length  of  duration  it  is  by  all  odds 
the  first;  in  fact.  Dr.  David  Caldwell  has  no  equal  in 
the  whole  educational  and  religious  history  of  the  State, 
He  lived  in  active  and  heroic  times  ;  he  moulded  and 
shaped  much  of  North  Carolina  for  sixty  years.  His 
life  and  character  are  so  striking  that  a  rather  extensive 
sketch  of  him  as  a  preacher  and  teacher  will  be  given 
here.  However,  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  find  any- 
thing absolutely  original  on  the  subject.  Most  of  the 
points  given  are  taken  from  Foote 's  Sketches,  Caruthers' 
Life  of  Caldwell,  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches  and 
Reminiscences.  The  writer  has  talked  with  Hon.  D.  F. 
Caldwell,  of  Greensboro,  his  oldest  living  descendant, 
and  has   obtained  from  him   confirmation  of  most  of  the 


1.  Address  by  Leazer,  p.  6, 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  434, 


38  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

statements  made  in  this  connection.  Dr.  Smith  also  has 
given  a  rather  extended  view  of  him  ;  and  he  has  used 
the  same  authorities  as  have  been  consuhed  for  this 
sketch. 

Dr.  Caldwell  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  the  22nd,  1725.  His  parents  were  in 
fairly  good  circumstances  and  were  of  spotless  character.^ 
While  in  his  teens  he  was  bound  to  a  house  carpenter, 
for  whom  he  worked  till  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  had  received  the  mere  rudiments  of  an  English  edu- 
cation while  a  boy,  but  was  twenty-five  befoi*e  he  began 
in  deep  earnestness  to  educate  himself  up  to  the  best  of 
that  time.^  He  determined  now  to  make  every  sacrifice 
necessary  to  educate  himself  for  the  ministry  ;  and  too 
he  had  high  hope  of  Christ  in  his  heart.  Very  little  is 
known  of  his  disposition  and  talents  till  he  had  made  up 
his  mind  to  go  to  Nassau  Hall.  While  his  father  had 
enough  means  to  send  him,  still  he  of  his  own  accord 
made  the  proposition  to  his  brothers,  that,  if  they  would 
supply  him  with  the  necessary  money  with  which  to  go 
through  college,  he  would  give  up  any  further  claim  to  a 
share  in  the  estate.  ^  He  seems  to  have  received  his  pre- 
paration from  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  the  father  of  John.  B. 
Smith,  President  of  Hampden-Sidney  College,  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  Rev.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  D.  D.,  Pres- 
ident of  Princeton  College,"^  in  the  eastern  part  of  his 
native  State ;  and  he  taught  school  a  year  or  so  be- 
fore going  to  college.  It  is  not  known  as  to  when  he 
entered  Nassau  Hall,  but  he  received  his  A.  B.  degree  in 
1761  ;^  and  with  great  earnestness  and  perseverance  had 
he  pursued  his  studies.     Though  he  was  thirty-six  years 

1.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  lO-U. 

2.  Ibid.  p.  14-15. 
8.    Ibid,  p.  18. 

4.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  232. 

5.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  19. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  39 

of  age  when  he  graduated,  he  felt  no  shame — he  had 
done  his  best.  After  his  graduation,  he  taught  for  one 
year  at  Cape  May,  and  in  connection  with  teaching  he 
kept  up  his  theological  studies.  At  the  end  of  the  year 
he  went  back  to  Princeton  and  became  an  assistant  in 
tlie  department  of  languages  during  the  absence  of  the 
regular  Professor  ;  aud  at  the  same  time  he  spent  most 
of  his  force  in  his  studies  for  the  ministry.  ^  He  was 
ordained  and  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick during  the  year  1762.  He  was  given  supply  work 
in  this  Presbytery's  territory  1763  and  1764. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  1765,  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Presbytery  to  labor  one  year  at  least  as  a  missionary  in 
North  Carolina.  From  the  fact  that  at  the  same  meet- 
ing he  received  a  call  from  Buffalo  and  Alamance  set- 
tlements in  North  Carolina  it  is  rather  probable  that  he 
had  visited  here  as  early  as  1764.  On  the  6th  of  July, 
1765,  he  was  set  apart  for  the  ministry  and  was  dismissed 
to  join  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  in  Virginia.  He 
doubtless  came  to  North  Carolina  as  early  as  he  could 
get  off  after  this  meeting. ^  At  any  rate,  he  seems  to 
have  been  located  in  Guilford  (then  a  part  of  Rowan) 
county  by  1766.  He  settled  about  three  miles  north-west 
of  Greensboro,  among  friends  w4io  had  emigrated  from 
Pennsylvania  a  few  years  before.  Soon  after  his  coming 
he  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Alexander  Craighead,  of 
Mecklenburg  county,  who  once  lived  in  his  native  sec- 
tion in  Pennsyvania.  His  installation  as  pastor  of 
Buffalo  and  Alamance  churches  took  place  March  3rd, 
1768.^  He  now  began  one  of  the  longest  ministries  on 
record  and  a  career  that  has  few  equals  among  any  peo- 
ple.    He  came  and  settled  permanently  among  the  very 


1.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  20. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  22. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  23. 


40  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

first ;  and  remained  longer  than  almost  any  one  of  them. 
He  had  these  two  churches  for  the  remaining  part  of  his 
long  life  ;  and  nobly  did  he  serve  them.  They  were  ((uite 
a  distance  apart  and  at  the  beginning  were  rather  poor. 
The  whole  colony  was  in  bad  financial  circumstances  ; 
the  French  War  had  left  a  heavy  debt,  and  trade  was 
restricted  by  the  unjust  laws  made  by  the  Royal  Gov- 
ernors. ^  At  first  they  promised  their  pastor  but  two 
hundred  dollars  ;  and  this  was  to  be  paid  in  grain  if  the 
people  chose.  He  at  once  saw  that  he  could  not  sup- 
port a  family  on  this  and  bought  a  farm  of  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  near  Bufi'alo  church.  Upon 
this  tract  of  land  he  raised  most  of  his  provisions. 

Very  soon  after  his  installation  as  pastor  he  began  his 
famous  school  at  his  own  log  home.  He  kept  this  up 
with  only  two  or  three  interruptions  until  old  age  told 
heavily  on  him;^  and  it  was  here  that  he  really  per- 
formed his  great  life  work.  Not  long  afterwards  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  study  and  practice  of  medi- 
cine. In  the  wilderness  around  him  he  saw  the  great 
need  of  an  educated  physician.  He  acquired  a  fair 
knowledge  of  medicine,  axid  practiced  it  in  connection 
with  his  ministerial  duties  for  several  years,  until  his 
fourth  son  was  prepared  to  do  his  work.^  He  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  War  of  the  Regulators,  which  termi- 
nated in  the  battle  of  Alamance,  May  16th,  1771 ;  not  as 
a  soldier,  but  as  an  arbiter  and  promoter  of  peace.  Many 
of  his  members,  especially  of  Alamance  church, belonged 
to  the  Regulators.^  Some  think  that  he  himself  had 
preached  and  worked  for  their  principles  and  cause.  It 
is  more  probable  that  he  gave  his  influence  to  reconcile 
both  sides.     Dr.   Caruthers,  on   page  142  of  his   Life  ol 


1.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  29. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  '29. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  42. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  148-154. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  41 

Caldwell,  says  :  "If  my  information  be  correct,  Dr.  Cald- 
well was  favorable  to  the  cause  of  the  Regulators,  but 
not  to  some  of  their  means."  He  was  without  a  doubt 
a  true  American  ;  and  took  a  very  active  part  in  behalf 
of  [he  War  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Convention  which  met  in  Halifax,  Nov.  12th,  1776,  in 
which  our  Bill  of  Rights  and  State  Constitution  were 
formed  and  adopted  ;^  w^as  also  a  member  of  the  Conven- 
tion of  1778  to  consider  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  He  had  show^n  himself  of  so  much  w^orth  to  the 
cause  of  Independence,  that  when  the  British  made  their 
cruel  invasion  of  middle  North  Carolina,  in  the  early  part 
of  1781,  they  offered  a  reward  for  him.  It  is  even  said 
that  his  character  was  well  known  to  Cornwallis  before 
he  reached  the  boundary  of  the  Colony  ;2  also  that  the 
offered  reward  was  two  hundred  pounds,  but  that  no 
betrayer  for  this  great  amount  of  money  could  be  found 
wdthin  his  congregations.^  He  w^as  never  obtained  by 
the  British,  though  the  army  of  Cornwallis  encamped  on 
his  premises,  occupied  his  house,  consumed  all  of  his 
provisions,  and  burned  his  large  library  and  valuable 
manuscripts  and  papers.* 

Though  his  home,  which  was  near  the  scene  of  the 
Battle  of  Guilford  Court  House,  March  15th,  1781,  and 
the  whole  surrounding  country  were  pillaged  by  the 
ruthless  soldiers  of  Cornwallis,  still  prosperity  soon 
afterward  began  to  come  back  ;  and  Dr.  Caldw^ell  again 
w^orked  with  the  hearts  and  minds  of  his  fellowmen .  He 
iaught  and  fought  against  the  great  flood  of  French  infi- 
delity which  was  then  reaching  the  far  away  State  of 
North  Carolina.  When  the  University  of  this  State  was 
established  he  was  offered  the   Presidency,  but  in  conse- 

1.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  189-190. 

2.  Ibid.  p.  209. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  210. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  218-224. 


42  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

quence  of  his  age  and  his  love  for  his  churches,  he  pre- 
ferred to  spend  the  remaining  part  of  his  life  among 
those  for  whom  he  had  toiled  for  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  1  Though  he  would  not  accept  their  ofif'er, 
they  made  him  a  D.  D.  in  1810. ^  He  continued  to 
preach  to  his  churches  until  about  1820  ;  and  when  his 
end  on  earth  came,  August  25tli,  1824,^  he  liad  spent 
well  nigh  sixty  years  in  the  service  of  the  ministry  to  his 
fellowmen.  During  the  most  of  which  time  he  had  been 
their  teacher  as  well  as  their  preacher.  He  was  stout 
and  enduring,  affectionate  to  family  and  friends,  dili- 
gent and  conscientious  in  teaching  intellectual  and  spir- 
itual truths,  patriotic  and  learned. 

When  we  consider  his  school  and  its  influence  a  great 
deal  may  well  be  said.  He  was  a  thorough  scholar  and 
had  great  tact  in  managing  boys.  He  knew  the  correct 
theories  of  life  and  education  and  had  a  wonderful  faculty 
of  imparting  instruction.^  His  mode  of  discipline  was 
very  peculiar  to  himself  and  very  effective.  He  did  not 
use  the  rod,  nor  is  there  any  record  of  his  ever  having 
expelled  a  single  student.  His  scholarship  and  character 
commanded  their  utmost  respect.  His  disposition  was 
of  such  a  unique  kind  that  he  would  give  rebukes  and 
corrections  never  to  be  forgotten  ;  and  such  rebukes 
never  won  the  ill-will  of  the  pupil  toward  him.  His 
countenance  and  manners,  calmness  and  humor,  won 
their  hearts.^  He  knew  how  to  inspire  deep  thoughts 
and  great  deeds  in  the  boy.  This  was  a  school  without 
a  single  parallel  in  North  Carolina.  The  only  school 
like  it  in  the  Thirteen  States  that  the  writer  knows  of  was 
the  famous   academy   at   Willington,   Abbeville  county. 


1.  Carutliers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  265. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University,  p.  288. 

3.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  258. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  80. 

5.  Ibid,  pp.  31-82 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  43 

South  Carolina,  run  by  Dr.  Moses  Waddel.^  Think  of 
such  a  character  in  a  log  school  house,  a  doubled  storied 
one  with  a  chimney  in  the  middle,  which  was  built  in 
his  own  yard,  pourin,^  out  his  deep  life  to  about  fifty 
boys  or  young  men  in  tliose  early  times  of  darkness,  and 
this  too  year  after  year  for  a  long  while.  His  pupils 
numbered  from  fifty  to  sixty — a  large  number  indeed  for 
such  times  and  conditions. ^ 

He  soon  won  such  a  reputation  that  students  came  to 
his  school  from  every  State  south  of  the  Potomac.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  every  one  who  knew  him,  that  he  influ- 
enced more  men  to  take  high  stands  in  the  public  pro- 
fessions than  any  other  man  of  his  times  in  the  Southern 
States.^  Many  pupils  of  his  became  famous  as  states- 
men, lawyers,  jurists,  physicians  and  preach3rs.  Some 
prepared  for  Princeton  or  Chapel  Hill,  after  it  was  estab- 
lished ;  many  of  those  who  became  most  distinguished  in 
the  various  vocations  received  their  only  education  under 
his  guidance.  Five  of  them  became  Governors  of  differ- 
ent States;  a  great  many  more  members  of  Congress. 
John  M.  Morehead,  one  of  the  State's  greatest  Governors 
and  citizens;  Judges  Murphy  and  McCoy,  two  of  our 
most  eminent  jurists  ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  E.  McCorkle,  D. 
D.,  Rev.  John  Mathews,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  John  Ander- 
son, D.  D.,  great  among  divines — these  are  a  few  of  his 
illustrious  students.  To  have  passed  through  the  course 
at  his  school  with  his  approbation  was  a  passport 
throughout  the  whole  South. ^  Dr.  Caruthers  says  on 
page  31  of  his  Life  of  Caldwell :  ''Probably  no  man  in 
the  Southern  States  has  had  a  more,  enviable  reputation 
as  a  teacher,  or  was  more* beloved  by  his  pupils  ;  and  no 
man,  with  the  same  number  of  scholars,  ever  had  so  few 


1.  See  Meriwether's  History  of  Higher  Education  in  South  Carolina,  pp.  37-44. 

2.  Caruihers*  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  81. 

3.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  30. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  30-31. 


44  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

occurences  of  an  unpleasant  kind  while  they  were  under 
his  care,  or  saw  less  to  regret  in  their  subsequent  con- 
duct." His  pupils,  without  a  single  exception,  whatso- 
ever their  abilities  or  attainments,  regarded  him  through 
life  with  the  greatest  veneration  as  an  instructor,  and 
cherished  his  memory  as  a  christian  man  with  the  deepest 
and  truest  affection.  Many  of  them  are  said  to  have 
shed  tears  at  the  mention  of  his  name,  or  when  passing 
by  the  church  in  which  he  preached  to  them  so  long  and 
well,  and  the  graveyard  in  which  his  remains  lie  buried.^ 
His  school  was  in  every  way  the  right  arm  of  the 
church. 2  While  the  whole  country  is  much  and  deeply 
indebted  to  it  for  the  general  spread  of  knowledge  and 
culture,  literature  and  science,  still  the  Presbyterian 
Church  especially  owes  much  of  its  very  existence  and 
growth  to  this  heroic  character,^  who  in  almost  a  wilder- 
ness kept  a  beacon  light  brightly  burning  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  A  great  preacher,  a  true  pastor  and  patriot ; 
a  greater  teacher  and  guide  of  the  youth. 


queen's  museum. 


The  next  school  in  order  of  time  was  Queen's  Museum 
at  Charlotte.  It  was  intended  to  be  on  the  most  exten- 
sive scale  of  any  institution  in  the  country,  and,  had  its 
plans  been  carried  out,  would  have  equalled  the  Univer- 
sity.^ It  began,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  about 
1767.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  little  classical  school 
run  by  Rev.  Joseph  Alexander  and  a  Mr.  Benedict, 
within  the  bounds  of  Sugar  Creek  congregation. ^  The 
school  was  in  an  intelligent  and  prosperous  community  ; 


1,  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  89. 
8.  Ibia,p.  40. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  194. 

5.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  513. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  45 

and  to  keep  up  with  the  demands  of  such  a  people 
vigorous  efforts  were  made  to  raise  it  to  the  rank  of  a 
college.  1  On  December  5th,  1770,  it  was  chartered  as 
Queen's  Museum  by  the  Colonial  Legislature,  which  met 
at  Newbern.2  This  charter  was  set  aside  by  the  King 
and  his  council.  The  charter  was  afterwards  amended 
and  passed  the  second  time,  but  only  to  be  annuled  again 
by  the  King.  Royalty  too  well  recognized  that  such  an 
institution  would  be  the  producing  force  of  democratic 
ideas  and  principles.^  The  school  went  on.  however, 
without  a  charter.  The  great  majority  of  the  people 
living  in  this  section,  between  the  Yadkin  and  Catawba 
rivers,  were  Presbyterians.  They  used  their  combined 
influence  to  secure  a  charter. "*  The  King  and  his  Gov- 
ernors were  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  had  no  desire 
or  intention  of  seeing  a  strongly  organized  force  of 
another  church  growing  up  in  their  own  bounds,  espe- 
cially when  that  church  was  the  Presbyterian,  their 
opponent  by  nature  and  princijDle.  The  hall  was  used 
for  political  debates  and  literary  clubs  previous  to  the 
Revolution  ;  and  the  debates  of  that  historic  convention 
which  formulated  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence also  took  place  here.^  This  was  indeed  the 
center  of  the  ''hornets'  nest  of  the  Revolution." 

It  seems  that  students  were  here  at  work  from  the 
time  of  its  first  charter  till  the  British  invasion  of  Char- 
lotte in  1780.  Foote  gives  a  copy  of  an  original 
diploma : 

"The  Moderator  and  Members  of  Union  Society  in 
Queen's  Museum,  Charlotte,  to  all  whom  these  presents 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  -513. 

2.  Davis's  Second  Revisal. 

3.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  513. 

4.  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  pp.  192-193. 

5.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  514 ;  Vass's  Eastern  North  Carolina,  p.  46. 


46  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

may  come,  with  Peace  and  Safety.  Be  it  hereby  certi- 
fied that  we  have  bestowed  upon  James  McEwen  this 
Diploma  in  testimony  of  his  having  been  a  member  of 
our  Society,  and  of  his  having  through  the  whole  time 
of  our  connection  together  deported  himself  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  merit  our  full  approbation,  both  as  a  faith- 
ful assistant  in  school,  and  a  regular,  useful  member  of 
Society. 

"Of  the  above  let  our  names  under-written  be  a  wit- 
ness. 

''Given  in  Union  Society,  at  the  stated  meeting  in  the 
Hall  of  Queen's  Museum,  Charlotte,  on  Friday,  27th  of 
September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-six."  This  diploma  was  signed  by 
J  no.  Kerr,  Moderator,  Handy  Harris,  Clerk,  William 
Humphrey,  Thos.  Henderson  and  Francis  Cummins, 
members.^ 

The  name  was  changed  to  Liberty  Hall  Academy,  per- 
haps during  the  year  1775  ;2  and  under  this  name  it 
received  a  charter.  It  did  not  receive  any  funds  from 
the  State  and  was  entirely  under  the  control  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 3  During  April,  1777,  an  act  was 
passed  by  which  the  following  were  made  trustees : 
Isaac  Alexander,  M.  D.,  President;  Col.  Thomas  Polk, 
Col.  Thomas  Neal,  Abraham  Alexander,  Waightstill 
Avery,  Ephraim  Brevard,  M.  D.,  Adlai  Osborne,  John 
McKnitt  Alexander,  Rev.  David  Caldwell,  Rev.  James 
Hall,  Rev.  James  Edmunds,  Rev.  John  Simpson,  Rev. 
Thomas  Rees,  Rev.  Thomas  McCaule,  and  Rev.  Samuel 
McCorkle.'*  Dr.  Isaac  Alexander,  Rev.  Thomas  McCaule 
and  Dr.  Ephraim  Brevard  were  made  a  committee  to 
frame  a  system  of  laws  for  the  government  of  the  Academy. 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  514. 

2.  Wheeler's  Reminiscences,  p.  230;  also  quoted  by  Dr.  Smith. 

3.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  515. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  515;  Caruthers'  Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  193. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  47 

The  first  meeting  of  the  whole  body  of  trustees  was  held 
on  January  3rd,  1778.  At  this  meeting  it  w^as  deter- 
mined to  buy  lots  from  Col.  Thomas  Polk  at  the  price  of 
nine  hundred  and  twenty  pounds.  On  these  lots  were 
already  some  buildings.  This  meeting  appointed  com- 
missioners to  make  improvements,  especially  to  build  a 
suitable  frame  house  for  a  dining  room.  They  fixed  the 
salary  of  the  President  at  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
pounds.  This  was  to  be  increased  in  proportion  as  pro- 
visions increased  in  price.  Their  regulations  about 
boarding  were  fine.  In  April,  1778,  the  laws  formed  by 
the  special  committee  Q,ppointed  for  the  purpose  w^ere 
adopted  by  the  whole  board.  The  course  of  studies  w^as 
in  the  main  the  same  as  was  later  formulated  by  the 
trustees  of  the  University  of  the  State.  The  trustees  had 
no  power  to  give  degrees,  but  only  certificates  of  studies 
and  improvements. 

After  they  had  the  institution  set  on  foot  as  a  college, 
they  began  to  look  out  for  a  President.^  The  fame  of 
Dr.  Alexander  McWhorter,  of  New  Jersey,  had  reached 
the  leading  characters  of  North  Carolina  ;  and  too  he  had 
visited  the  churches  here  in  1764-1765. ^  His  name  was 
the  first  choice  in  this  meeting  of  April,  1778.  He  could 
not  accept  their  offer  and  request.  His  afi'airs  at  home 
were  too  much  deranged  in  consequence  of  the  War  of 
the  Revolution  and  also  of  his  absence  on  that  mission- 
ary tour  of  independence,  through  the  Southern  States, 
which  he  made  at  the  request  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. Mr.  Robert  Brown  field  then  accepted  the  office 
for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  Dr.  Ephraim  Brevard 
and  Rev.  Samuel  E.  McCorkle,  D.  D.,  were  sent  North 
to  make  overtures  the  second  time   to  Dr.  McWhorter. 


1.  See  manuscript  of  Adlai  Osborne  in  the  Library  of  the  University  of  North 
Carolina;  quoted  by  Caruthers  in  his  Life  of  Caldwall,  pp.  193-194;  the  points  of 
which  are  given  by  Foote,  Sketches,  pp.  514-51-5. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  514. 


48  'J-'HE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

This  time  he  accepted.  He  at  once  settled  up  his  affairs 
in  his  native  State  and  moved  to  Charlotte.  He  was 
ready  to  take  charge  of  the  institution,  when  the  whole 
affair  was  suspended  on  account  of  the  coming  invasion 
of  the  British.  This  was  done  February  15th,  1780  ;  and 
the  school  was  never  resumed  again. ^ 

When  the  forces  of  Cornwallis  were  in  Charlotte  Lib- 
erty Hall  Academy  w^as  used  as  a  hospital  and  was  badly 
injured.  This  school  occupied  the  ground  upon  which 
the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Julius  Alexander  was  after- 
wards erected. 2  When  peace  came  the  idea  of  having  a 
college  here  any  longer  was  gi^^en  up  ;  and  past  hopes 
were  turned  over  to  Mount  Zion  College  at  Winnsborough , 
South  Carolina,  over  which  the  great  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
McCaule,  D.  D.,  once  the  pastor  of  Centi'e,  presided.  To 
this  or  to  Princeton  College  the  Presbyterian  boys  went 
for  their  higher  training  until  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  was  opened. ^  Foote  says  that  Mr.  Thomas 
Henderson  used  the  Academy  for  a  High  School,  which 
he  carried  on  with  great  credit  and  influence  for  several 
years. ^  He  also  gives  a  copy  of  a  certificate  of  scholar- 
ship granted  by  the  trustees  of  the  old  academy  : 

".State  of  North  Carolina,  / 
Mecklenburg  County.  S 

"This  is  to  certify  that  Mr.  John  Graham  hath  been  a 
student  in  the  Academy  of  Liberty  Hall  in  the  State  and 
County  above  mentioned,  the  space  of  four  years  pre- 
ceding the  date  hereof,  that  his  whole  deportment  dur- 
ing his  residence  there  was  perfectly  regular  ;  that  he 
prosecuted  his  studies  with  diligence,  and  made  such 
acquisitions  both  in  the  languages  and  scientific  learning 

1.  Manuscript  of  Adlai  Osborne, 

2.  Footes'  Sketches,  p.  516. 
8.    Ibid,  p.  517. 

4.    Ibid,  p.  517. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  49 

as  gave  entire  satisfaction  to  liis  teacher.  And  he  is 
hereby  recommended  to  ^the  friendly  notice  and  regard 
of  all  lovers  of  Religion  and  Literature  wherever  he 
comes.  In  testimony  of  which  this  is  given  at  Liberty 
Hall,  this  22d  of  November,  1778,  acd  signed  by  Isaac 
V.  Alexander,  President,  Ephraim  Brevard  and  Abraham 
Alexander,  Trustees."^ 

Of  this  school  Dr.  Caruther's  says  on  pages  194-195  of 
his  Life  of  Caldwell:  ''The  history  of  Liberty  Hall 
Acadeny  is  interesting  to  the  friends  of  literature  as  a 
bold  and  vigorous  eifort  made  for  its  promotion  at  that 
early  day,  and  under  -the  most  discouraging  circum- 
stances ;  and  it  is  especially  interesting  to  Presbyterians 
as  being  one  in  a  series  of  efforts  made  by  the  people  in 
that  region  to  establish  a  literary  institution,  not  only 
of  a  high  order,  but  on  Christian  principles,  and  under 
Christian  influence.  Before  and  after  its  incorporation, 
the  Presbytery  of  Orange  exercised  a  degree  of  super- 
vision over  Liberty  Hall,  as  they  probably  would  have 
done  over  Queen's  College,  if  it  had  gone  into  operation  ; 
but  precisely  on  what  grounds  and  to  what  extent  does 
not  appear.  For  this  purpose  the  Presbytery  met,  dur- 
ing its  existence,  much  oftener  in  Charlotte  and  Sugar 
Creek  than  in  any  other  part  of  their  bounds  ;  they 
appointed  committees  to  examine  the  students ;  and 
they  co-operated  with  the  trustees  in  procuring  the  serv- 
ices of  Dr.  McWhorter.  They  sometimes  held  part  of 
their  sessions  in  one  of  these  places,  and  the  remainder 
in  the  other.  Thus,  having  met  in  Charlotte,  October 
1,  1776,  they  adjourned  in  the  evening  to  Sugar  Creek, 
where  they  transacted  the  rest  of  their  business  ;  and 
among  other  things  they  appointed  Messrs.  Caldwell  and 
Rees  to  examine  the  school  in  Charlotte.     ...    It  ap- 

1.    Footes'  Sketches,  p.  516. 


50  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

pears  to  have  been  an  object  of  their  constant  and  anx- 
ious solicitude  ;  and  their  whole  influence  was  exerted 
for  its  promotion  ;  nor  was  its  failure  owing  to  any  neg- 
lect or  want  of  zeal  on  their  part ;  but  to  the  causes 
which  were  beyond  their  control."  This  quotation  may 
seem  rather  too  long  in  this  connection.  It,  however, 
shows  clearly  how  much  interest  the  Church  took  in  the 
enterprise  and  of  w^hat  value  they  regarded  such  an  in- 
stitution in  their  midst.  It  has  also  been  quoted  to 
show  that  the  Presbyterians  have  always  stood  square 
by  all  their  affairs,  especially  in  their  educational  under- 
takings. 


Rev.  Henry  Patillo  is  among  the  greatest  of  the  early 
teachers  in  this  State.  He  seems  to  have  been  teaching 
at  the  same  time  as  Dr.  Caldwell  in  Guilford  and  Dr. 
Alexander  at  Charlotte  ;  and  perhaps  began  this  work 
earlier  than  either  of  the  two.  Dr.  Caruthers  states 
that  he  was  teaching  classical  schools  in  Orange  and 
Granville  counties  at  the  same  time  as  Caldwell,  but 
says  that  nothing  is  known  of  their  location  or  success. ^ 
According  to  Foote  he  went  to  reside  with  Rev.  Samuel 
Davies  in  Hanover  in  1751.  There  he  pursued  his  studies 
under  this  learned  divine  ;  and  was  supported  partly  by 
the  kindness  of  friends  and  partly  by  teaching  a  little 
school. 2  He  was  ordained  in  1757.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  at  Hico,  October  2nd,  1765,  a  call  came 
from  Hawfields,  Eno  and  Little  River,  for  his  services. 
He  accepted  the  call  and  moved  among  these  churches  ; 
and  there  or  somewhere  else  in  Orange  and  Granville 
counties  spent  about  thirty-five  years  of  his  life.^     Dur- 


1.    Life  of  Caldwell,  p.  80. 
^'    Footes'  Sketches,  pp.  215-216. 
Ibid,  p.  217. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  51 

ing  this  time  he  preached  and  taught.  His  influence 
seems  to  have  been  very  strong  and  wholesome  upon  a 
large  territory.  He  was  a  great  student  of  books  and 
men.  He  had  received  his  classical  and  theological 
training  under  Davies  ;  and  continued  to  spend  a  good 
deal  of  his  time  in  close  study  during  life.  His  scholar- 
ship was  extensive  and  deep.  The  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  was  conferred  on  him  causa  honoris  by  Hampden- 
Sydney  College,  of  Virginia,  in  1787. ^  During  this  year 
he  published,  through  the  press  in  Wilmington,  a  volume 
of  sermons.  He  also  prepared  a  Geography  for  Youth 
by  way  of  Question  and  Answer.  Foote  says  of  this 
work ,  that  it  was  doubtless  superior  to  any  printed  work 
of  the  kind  in  those  times. ^  On  the  same  page  he  states 
that  for  twelve  years  he  had  a  classical  school  in  Gran- 
ville county  ;  and  that  a  part  of  this  time  it  was  at  a 
place  occupied  by  Mr.  M.J.  Hunt  a  few  years  prior  to 
1846,  and  part  of  the  time  at  Williamsburgh.^ 

A  school  by  the  name  of  Granville  Hall  was  incor- 
porated in  1779.  This  was  located  in  Granville  county, 
exactly  where  the  writer  has  not  been  able  to  find  out. 
According  to  Martin's  Collection  of  Private  Acts,  page  93, 
the  following  wei-e  made  trustees  :  Governor  Richard 
Casw^ell,  Abner  Nash,  speaker  of  the  senate,  Thomas 
Benbury,  speaker  of  the  house  of  commons,  John  Penn, 
Rev.  George  Micklejohn,  Rev.  Henry  Patillo,  Thomas 
Person,  Edmund  Taylor,  John  Taylor,  Memucan  Hunt, 
Philemon  Hawkins,  Jr.,  Howell  Lewis,  Robert  Lewis, 
Charles  Rush  Eaton,  John  Young,  and  Samuel  Smith. 
They  were  given  instructions  to  purchase  five  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  to  erect  suitable  buildings.*  Mr. 
Patillo  taught  in  this  school  for  some  time,  but  probably 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  222;  Dr.  Smith  gives  the  date  as  1789. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  222. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  222. 

4.  Given  also  by  Smith,  p.  87. 


52  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

was  not  the  first  teacher.  According  to  Foote,  page  218, 
he  did  not  move  to  Nutbrush  and  Grassy  Creek,  in  Gran- 
ville, till  1780  ;  and  it  is  likely  that  he  was  not  connected 
with  the  school  in  their  bounds  before  he  became  the 
pastor.  However,  it  is  rather  certain  that  he  taught  in 
this  school  a  large  part  of  the  twelve  years  of  his  teach- 
ing in  Granville  county.  Considering  the  prominence 
of  many  of  the  trustees,  one  would  be  led  to  believe 
that  this  was  another  famous  institution. 

He  lived  among  the  Regulators,  and  many  of  their 
meetings  were  within  his  bounds  ;  Hillsboro  was  for  some 
time  the  Capital  of  the  State  and  the  center  of  the  meet- 
ings of  the  Regulators.  1  Still  he,  like  Dr.  David  Caldwell, 
gave  his  life  to  educate  them  and  to  make  them  true  and 
loyal  citizens.  He,  nevertheless,  took  quite  a  good 
deal  of  interest  in  politics.  In  1775  he  was  a  delegate 
from  Bute  county  (now  Warren  and  Franklin)  to  the  first 
Provincial  Congress  of  North  Carolina,  August  20th, 
1775,  in  Hillsboro.  He  was  selected  by  the  convention 
to  read  prayers  every  morning,  and  Rev.  Charles  Edward 
Taylor  every  evening.  Mr.  Patillo  was  made  chairman 
of  the  Congress  in  a  committee  of  the  whole,  when  the 
plan  of  the  General  Confederation  of  the  United 
Colonies  was  considered.^ 

CLIo's  NURSERY  AND  SCIENCE  HALL. 

The  founder  of  these  schools  was  Rev.  James  Hall, 
D.  D.,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  useful  characters 
in  the  early  history  of  the  State.  He  was  great  alike  in 
his  churches  and  schools  ;  and  moulded  and  shaped  the 
minds  and  characters  of  many  prominent  men .  His  in- 
fluence was  so  great,  that  he  deserves  more  than  a  mere 
passing  notice.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August 
22d,   1744,   of   Scotch-Irish   parents.     His  family  came 

1.  Martin,  Williamson,  Wheeler,Caruthers  and  Moore. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  217-218. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  53 

to  North  Carolina  when  he  was  but  eight  years  of  age.^ 
They  settled  in  the  upper  part  of  Rowan  county,  which 
is  now  Iredell.  His  home  was  within  the  bounds  of  his 
congregation,  which  he  served  during  his  whole  career 
of  thirty-eight  years. ^  In  this  secluded  forest  he  grew 
up  under  the  kind  and  pious  care  of  his  parents,  and 
became  imbued  with  the  missionary  spirit,  and  the  desire 
to  give  his  life  to  truth  and  Christ.  He  was  twenty-six 
before  he  began  a  study  of  the  classics.  However,  when 
only  seventeen  he  became  deeply  interested  in  Geometry 
and  other  branches  of  mathematics,  and  this  with  the 
exact  sciences  were  through  life  his  favored  subjects. ^ 
He  took  his  college  education  at  Princeton,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  A.  B.  degree  in  1774,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one.  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  then  president,  and 
he  was  so  much  pleased  with  young  Hall  that  he  offered 
him  a  position  as  teacher  of  mathematics.  The  offer  was 
not  taken.  Mr.  Hall  had  already  determined  to  give  his 
life  to  the  benefit  and  advancement  of  his  adopted 
Colony,  North  Carolina.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Orange  about  1776. ^  On  the  8th  of 
April,  1778,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  Fourth  Creek, 
Concord  and  Bethany.  These  united  congregations  ex- 
tended from  South  Yadkin  to  the  Catawba,  and  even 
beyond  these  rivers.  He  served  these  until  1790,  when 
he  was  relieved  of  all  except  Bethany.  With  this  he 
continued  till  his  death,  July  2oth,  1826. ^ 

His  activity  during  the  Revolution  was  very  great. 
By  nature  and  education  he  was  strongly  in  favor  of 
American  Independence ;  and  he  gave  his  mind  and 
body  to  this  cause.     He  met   with  his  fellow-citizens  in 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  315-316. 

2.  Ibid.  p.  316. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  316. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  322-323. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  324. 


54  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

political  discussions  ;  he  gave  them  his  spirit  and  enthus- 
iasm, and  increased  their  love  of  liberty  many  fold.  He 
was  indeed  the  military  parson  of  North  Carolina. 
When  Cornwallis  was  plundering  and  devastating  South 
Carolina,  he  enthused  his  flock  so  deeply  that  a  company 
of  cavalry  was  at  once  organized.  They  by  common 
consent  demanded  him  for  their  leader.  He,  though 
strongly  opposed  to  leading  them  in  battle,  still  accepted 
the  command.  He  gave  great  courage  to  his  country- 
men, and  served  them  well  as  leader  and  chaplain. ^ 

When  the  war  was  over  and  his  country  had  won  its 
freedom,  he  went  back  to  his  real  work — preaching  and 
teaching.  He  found  everything  in  a  deplorable  condition  ; 
morality  and  religious  zeal  had  declined  in  his  congrega- 
tion. He  went  to  the  work  with  such  enthusiasm  and 
consecration  that  his  people  soon  became  deeply  interes- 
ted in  religious  and  intellectual  affairs.  ^  He  was  great 
as  a  preacher,  and  jequally  great  as  a  teacher. ^  It 
seems  that  he  set  on  foot  Clio's  Nursery  very  early  aftei* 
he  was  installed  as  pastor.  Foote  says  in  this  connection 
that  Humphrey  Hunter  had  a  certificate,  stating  that 
he  was  a  pupil  of  this  school  from  August,  1778,  to  Octo- 
ber, 1779.*  The  institution  was  located  on  Snow  Creek, 
in  the  bounds  of  Bethany  congregation.  He  superin- 
tended this  with  great  care.  In  it  many  men,  who 
afterwards  became  leaders  in  society,  church  and  politics, 
were  trained.  Among  these  were  :  Kev.  Richard  King, 
of  Tennessee,  of  the  greatest  ability  of  any  man  educated 
in  the  western  part  of  the  state  during  the  early  history  ; 
Dr.  Waddel,  of  South  Carolina;  Judges  Laurie,  Harris 
and  Smith.  5 

At  the  same  time   he   opened   at   his  own   home  The 


1,  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  324-325. 

2.  Ibid.  p.  327. 


_.    Ibid,  p. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  330 

5,  Ibia.p.  330 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  55 

Science  Hall.  Of  this  he  was  the  sole  teacher.  He 
purchased  several  philosophical  apparatus,  and  made 
this  school  the  best  in  scientific  advantages  in  the  State. 
The  institution  was  kept  up  for  many  years,  and  with 
great  success  and  usefulness.  Andrew  Pickens,  Israel 
Pickens,  Governor  of  Alabama,  Hon.  Joseph  Pearson, 
Judge  Williams,  of  Tennessee,  are  a  few  of  the  many 
men  w^ho  received  their  scientific  training  in  this  school.^ 
His  influence  in  leading  men  into  the  ministr}'^  w^as  very 
strong.  He  had  such  great  talents  and  ability  of  in- 
structing others,  such  deep  piety  and  soundness  of  theo- 
logy, that  his  home  also  became  the  meeting  place  of  the 
prophets.  From  this  home  school  or  Science  Hall  came 
many  prominent  divines:  Revs.  Robert  Hall,  James 
McEwin  and  Daniel  Thatcher  ;  Francis  Cummins,  D.  D., 
and  John  Brown,  D.  D.,  of  Georgia  ;  James  Blythe,  D.  D., 
of  Kentucky ;  J.  M.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  of  Rocky  River; 
Revs.  George  McWhorter,  James  Adams,  Thomas 
Price,  James  Mcllheney,  Thomas  Neely,  Andrew  Flinn, 
D.  D.,  of  South  Carolina;  John  Robinson,  D.  D.,  of 
Poplar  Tent;  Rev.  J.  Andrews,  of  Ohio;  Revs.  John 
and  James  Bowman,  and  Thomas  Hall,  of  Tennessee; 
Rev.  Joseph  D.  Kilpatrick  and  William  Barr,  D.  D.  In 
addition  to  his  work  as  a  pastor  and  teacher  in  this 
school,  he  did  much  for  the  intellectual  welfare  of  his 
congregation  by  establishing  a  circulating  library  among 
them,  and  by  organizing  and  encouraging  debating 
societies.^  He  also  had  a  class  of  young  people  in 
Grammar,  which  met  every  Saturday.  For  their  use  he 
wrote  a  system  of  grammar.  At  first  manuscript  copies 
w^ere  circulated  among  the  class,  but  afterwards  the  book 
was  published,  and  it  seems  that  it  had  an  extensive 
circulation. 3     His  work  was  deeply  appreciated  far  and 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  33(>. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  330. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  330. 


56  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

wide.  He  also  received  many  honors  during  his  long 
life,  among  which  was  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  his 
alma  mater,  Nassau  Hall,^  and  from  the  University  of 
North  Carolina  in  1810. 2 

ZION    PARNASSUS. 

This  is  another  one  of  the  great  Presbyterian  academies, 
which  had  such  vast  influence  on  middle  and  western 
North  Carolina  during  the  eighteenth  century.  It  was 
organized  by  Rev.  Samuel  E.  McCorkle,  D.  D.,  about 
1785.^  He,  like  Dr.  Hall,  played  a  conspicuous  part, 
and  deserves  much  at  the  hands  of  the  writer  of  the 
church  and  educational  history  of  the  State.  He  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  near  Harris's  Ferry,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  23d,  1746.  When  only  ten  years  of  age 
his  parents  came  to  North  Carolina  and  settled  in  the 
western  part  of  Rowan  county,  within  the  bounds  of 
Thyatira  congregation.  While  very  young  he  was  placed 
in  an  English  school  and  acquired  knowledge  so  rapidly 
that  soon  after  coming  to  this  State  he  was  employed  in 
a  free  school.  His  classical  training  for  college  was  re- 
ceived under  the  guidance  of  Dr.  David  Caldwell,  in 
Guillord.  From  here  he  went  to  Princeton,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  the  A.  B.  degree  in  1772.*  He  re- 
ceived license  to  preach  from  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York  in  1774.  After  this  he  spent  two  years  in  Virginia, 
before  he  began  his  ministerial  life  in  North  Carolina. 
He  was  ordained  pastor  of  Thyatira  congregation  by  the 
Hanover  Presbytery,  August  2d,  1777.  This  was  the 
scene  of  his  great  energies  till  his  death,  June  21st,  1811.^ 
He  strove  hard  to  improve  his   charge  in   divine   and 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  335. 

•2.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  238. 

3.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  357. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  351. 

5.  Ibid.  p.  354. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  57 

human  knowledge.  He  had  greaj  native  ability,  and 
improved  and  increased  this  many  fold  by  close  study. 
He  was  a  striking  and  leading  character  in  a  large 
section  ;  and  his  influence  came  as  much  from  his  school 
as  from  his  pulpit. 

His  school  was  on  the  road  from  Statesville  to  Salis- 
bury ;  it  was  at  his  home,  which  was  not  more  than  nine 
miles  from  Salisbury.  It  was  begun  as  a  classical  insti- 
tution, but  he  soon  opened  in  connection  with  it  a  de- 
partment for  preparing  teachers.  This  was  a  new  feature  ; 
and  its  results  seem  to  have  been  good.  He  gave  great 
assistance  in  the  way  of  free  tuition  to  poor  yet  worthy 
3^oung  men  ;  also  helped  numbers  to  buy  books.  His 
discipline  was  of  a  higher  order  than  was  usual ;  he 
cared  to  have  nobody  as  students  unless  they  had  good 
talents  and  a  strong  desire  to  work.^  Foote  says  that 
there  were  seven  graduates  in  the  first  class  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina,  and  that  six  of  these  had 
been  pupils  of  this  great  teacher.  ^  So  great  was  his 
reputation  for  sound  scholarship  and  strong  influence  in 
teaching  young  men  that  he  was  off'ered  the  first  Profes- 
sorship in  the  University  of  the  State.  This  was  the  Chair 
of  Moral  and  Political  Philosophy  and  History  ;  and  it 
gave  the  occupant  the  power  of  a  presiding  ofiice.  He, 
however,  did  not  accept  the  office  and  honor;  he  pre- 
ferred to  spend  his  life  as  a  pastor  and  instructor  of  the 
youth  of  his  congregation. ^  Foote  says  on  page  358  of 
his  Sketches  :  ''His  students  were,  in  afterlife,  found  on 
the  bench,  in  the  Chair  of  State,  and  forty-five  of  them 
in  the  pulpit."  Hon.  A.  Leazer  says:  "The  school  of 
Dr.  Samuel  E.  McCorkle  ....  could  have  flourished 
only  among  a  broad-minded,  public-spirited  people,  de- 
voted to  true  learning.     Here  the  sturdy  youth  of  that 

1.    Foote's  Sketches,  p.  ?J57. 
■2.    Ibid,  p.  HiS. 
3.    Ibid,  p.  358. 


58  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

day  found  thorough  training  in  Theology,  elaborate 
learning  in  the  Ancient  Classics,  profound  studies  in 
Mathematics,  a  less  extended  coui-se  m  the  Natural 
Sciences,  and  even  then,  one  hundred  years  ago,  this 
great  pioneer  and  philosopher  taught  the  art  of  teaching, 
but  didn't  call  it  pedagogics.  Dr.  McCorkle's  school  was 
called  Zion-Parnassus,  indicating  his  idea  of  learning — 
the  combination  of  religion  and  polite  literature."  ^  It 
seems  that  he  kept  up  this  school  till  his  death.  After 
that  it  went  down  for  a  while,  and  was  afterwards  re- 
opened in  Salisbury.  Dr.  Smith  thinks  this  has  been 
continued  with  a  few  intermissions  to  the  present,  as  the 
Salisbury  High  School.  ^ 

SOME  OTHER  PRESBYTERIAN  SCHOOLS. 

There  were  several  other  schools  run  by  Presbyterians 
than  those  already  mentioned.  However,  in  most  cases 
very  little  can  be  found  out  about  them.  Foote  says  on 
page  179  of  his  Sketches  that  Rev.  William  Bingham 
came  from  Ireland  to  Wilmington,  and  began  a  classical 
school  there  about  1785  ;  and  in  his  teaching  he  was  very 
successful.  From  here  he  removed  to  Pittsboro,  Chat- 
ham county,  and  established  the  real  Bingham  School, 
which  has  been  so  famous  in  the  cause  of  secondary  ed- 
ucation. The  date  of  his  leaving  Wilmington  was  about 
1793.^  He  also  preached  in  W^ilmington  and  the  sur- 
rounding country.^  He  continued  at  Pittsboro  till 
1801,  when  he  became  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  in 
the  University  of  the  State.  He  resigned  this  place  in 
1805  and  re-opened  his  school  in  Orange  county.^     The 


1,  Semi  Centenary  Addresses.  1887.  p.  7. 

2.  History  of  Edncation  in  North  Carolina,  p.  39. 
a.  Wheeler's  Reminiscences,  p.  336. 

4.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  179. 

5.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  79. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  59 

further  history  belongs  to  the  nineteenth  century  and 
will  be  considered  later. 

Rev.  Robert  Archibald,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  in  the 
class  of  1772,  became  pastor  of  Rocky  River  and  Poplar 
Tent  churches  about  1778.^  Soon  after  being  installed 
as  preacher,  he  began  a  classical  school  at  Poplar  Tent, 
Cabarrus  county.  It  seems  that  he  continued  at  this 
work  for  some  time,  and  that  he  had  great  influence  in 
his  community. 2  Rev.  James  Wallis  was  pastor  of  New 
Providence  from  1792  till  1819.  He  established  an 
academy  at  Providence  about  1792  ;  and  kept  a  classical 
school  in  it  for  many  years.  He  was  not  so  poor  that 
he  had  to  teach  for  a  living,  but  taught  for  the  sake  of 
his  countrymen,  and  especially  of  his  congregation.  His 
success  was  great.  He  was  for  some  years  a  member  of 
the  trustees  of  the  University  of  the  State,  and  had 
great  influence  generally.^  This,  as  well  as  the  school 
at  Poplar  Tent,  was  kept  up  for  a  long  time  during  the 
nineteenth  century. 

Rev.  David  Kerr,  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin, 
came  from  Ireland  to  become  the  first  regular  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Fayette ville.  He  was  among  the  best 
preachers  in  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  and  one  of  the 
finest  scholars  of  his  times.  He  began  his  regular  preach- 
ing in  the  Courthouse  in  1791.  He  taught  school  at  the 
same  time.  The  trustees  paid  him  a  salary  of  four 
hundred  dollars  for  teaching  and  the  same  amount  for 
preaching.*  He  was  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  in 
the  State  University  1794-1796. ^  Dr.  Smith «  and  others 
think  that  Fayetteville  has  had  an  academy  during  most 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  482. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  482. 

3.  Ibid,  pp.  247-250. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  490. 

-5.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  79. 

6.  History  of  Education,  p.  SO. 


60  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

of  its  liiscory    since    the   one  organized   by    Mr.    Kerr. 

LUTHERAN    AND    GERMAN    SCHOOLS. 

These  people,  as  has  already  been  said,  did  not  take 
a  very  live  interest  in  intellectual  pursuits  and  attain- 
ments. They  belonged  to  the  agricultural  stage.  In 
consequence  of  their  lack  of  schools  and  teachers  they 
did  not  grow  rapidly,  nor  have  they  ever  had  a  very 
strong  influence  over  the  State  as  a  whole.  However, 
they  have  been  a  pure  and  noble  people  ;  and  have  formed 
a  good  element  of  our  common  citizenship — the  middle 
classes.  Most  of  the  schools  that  they  did  have  were  run 
by  the  churches.  They  had  few  preachers  as  well  as  teach- 
ers. Rev.  G.  D.  Bernlieim,on  page  154  of  his  History  of  the 
German  Settlements  and  Lutheran  Church  in  North  and 
South  Carolina,  says  :  ''Inasmuch  as  these  settlers  located 
themselves  so  gradually,  besides  being  divided  into  two 
denominations,  it  was  some  time  before  they  were  suf- 
ficiently numerous  to  have  a  pastor  located  and  perma- 
nently settled  among  them  ;  sermons  and  prayers  were 
usually  read  on  Sunday  by  their  German  school  teacher, 
and  whenever  they  were  permitted  to  enjoy  the  regular 
administration  of  the  preached  word  and  sacraments, 
which  w^as  seldom,  it  was  afforded  them  by  some  sell- 
appointed  missionary,  whilst  their  school-teacher  usually 
buried  their  dead  with  an  appropriate  ceremony  from  the 
liturgy,  and,  in  case  of  urgent  necessity,  baptized  their 
children."  They  have  been  very  slow  to  make  changes  ; 
their  progress  has  been  very  conservative.  However, 
they  have  avoided  many  of  the  vices  and  immoralities 
into  which  others  have  gotten  so  deeply.  They  had  paro- 
chial schools  whenever  a  teacher  could  be  obtained.  In 
these  schools  the  catechism  and  other  departments  of 
rudimentary  knowledge  were  taught.     The  Bible  was,  as 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  61 

a  rule,  the  text-book  in  reading.^  They  had  most  of 
their  religious  services  in  the  German  language,  and 
this  was  for  some  time  the  only  language  taught  in  their 
schools.  They  at  first  strongjy  opposed  the  introduction 
of  the  English  language  ;  and  this  custom  made  them 
more  exclusive  and  retarded  their  growth  in  the  way  of 
churches  and  schools.  ^ 

Their  settlements  in  middle  North  Carolina  were  made 
in  the  main  by  emigrants  from  Pennsylvania,  who  came 
from  1750  to  1770. ^  Perhaps  the  first  church  organized 
in  this  State  by  the  Germans  and  Lutherans  was  at 
Salisbury.  The  movement  was  begun  in  1768,*  and  by 
1772^  they  were  wanting  a  preacher  and  a  teacher.  Their 
church  known  by  the  name  of  Hickory  Church  was  the 
first  of  any  denomination  in  Salisbury.  When  the  con- 
gregation, at  first  composed  of  both  Germans  and  Luther- 
ans, was  organized  there  was  no  preacher  to  lead  them 
in  the  ways  of  Christ ;  and  in  order  to  supply  this  want 
they  were  compelled  to  send  to  Europe.  During  the  time 
of  the  organization  of  this  church  in  Salisbury,  there  were 
a  few  other  congregations  in  Rowan  and  in  that  part  of 
Mecklenburg,  which  is  now  Cabarrus  county.  In  1772 
Christopher  Rintelmann,  of  Organ  Church  in  Rowan 
county,  and  Christopher  Layrle,  of  St.  John's  Church 
in  Mecklenburg,  were  sent  to  Europe  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  ministers  and  teachers.  They  applied  to  the 
Consistory  Council  of  Hanover,  Germany.^  They 
brought  back  with  them  Rev.  Adolph  Nussman  as  pas- 
tor and  Mr.  Gottfried  Arndt  as  teacher.  They  arrived  in 
North  Carolina  in  1773."^ 


1.  Bernheim.p. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  188. 
S.  Ibid,  p.  -253. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  241. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  2u6. 

6.  Ibid.  p.  256. 

7.  Ibid,  p.  257. 


62  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Mr,  Nussman  at  once  became  the  pastor  of  Hickory 
Church  in  Salisbury.  He  remained  here  but  a  year; 
then  removed  to  Dutch  Creek  Church,  now  known  as 
St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  in  Cabarrus  county.^  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  some  dissension  arose  between  the  two 
denominations.  The  Lutherans  withdrew  and  built 
Organ  Church ;  and  the  German  Reformed  organized 
Grace  Church. ^  After  Mr.  Nussman  left  Salisbury  the 
newly  organized  congregation  known  as  Organ  Church 
asked  Mr.  Arndt,  who  had  been  their  teacher  for  a  year, 
to  become  their  pastor.  He  was  sent  to  be  ordained  to 
the  office  of  the  ministry  in  1773.  He  served  them  in 
the  capacity  of  preacher  and  pastor  till  1786,  when 
he  went  to  Lincoln  county,  along  the  Catawba  river. 
He  was  the  real  founder  of  the  Lutheran  Church  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Catawba,  and  was  one  of  the  strong- 
est forces  in  his  whole  church.  When  at  Salisbury  he 
had  influenced  all  the  territory  of  Davie,  Iredell  and 
Davidson  counties. ^  The  writer  has  not  been  able  to 
find  out  for  certain  whether  Mr.  Arndt  continued  to  teach 
after  his  ordination  in  1775  or  not,  though  he  rather 
thinks  he  did. 

There  is  some  record  of  other  school-teachers  among 
these  denominations  in  other  counties,  though  very  little 
except  the  names  in  a  few  cases  has  been  found  out. 
The  first  church  edifice  of  the  Dutch  Buffalo  congrega- 
tion (aftewards  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church)  in  Meck- 
lenburg was  used  for  the  double  purpose  of  sanctuary 
and  school-house.*  Whether  Mr.  Nussman  was  also 
the  teacher  at  any  time  during  his  pastorate  cannot  be 
found  out.  At  any  rate,  he  was  not  during  the  first  part. 
According  to  the  record  of  this  Church   Mr.  Friesland 

1.  Bernheim,p.  242, 

2.  Ibid,  p.  245. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  246. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  261. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  63 

became  their  teaQher  almost  at  the  same  time  that  Mr. 
Nussman  was  ordained  pastor.^  In  accordance  with  the 
Constitution  adopted  by  this  Church  about  1780,  the 
pastor  and  teacher  were  to  be  supported  by  the  members  ; 
and  the  members  had  to  bind  themselves  to  a  definite 
amount  of  salary  before  the  services  of  either  minister  or 
teacher  could  be  secured.  Bernheim,  in  referring  to 
this,  says,  on  page  252  of  his  history:  '*A  portion  of 
the  school-teacher's  salary  consisted  in  the  use  of  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  good  land,  which  the  members  were  to 
cultivate  for  him,  and  also  to  gather  the  grain,  hay,  &c., 
into  his  barn,  when  the  proper  time  arrived."  Mr. 
Nussman,  while  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran,  made 
many  journeys  into  Davidson,  Guilford,  Orange,  Stokes 
and  Forsyth  counties  ;2  and  as  a  result  a  good  many 
churches  were  established  within  this  large  territory. 
It  is  also  very  probable  that  schools  were  begun  in 
several  of  these  communities.  According  to  Caruthers, 
a  Rev.  Mr.  Beuthahn,  of  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
organized  some  congregations  in  Guilford  and  Orange. 
He  also  taught  a  German  school  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  Guilford.  This  was  his  principal  means  of  support. ^ 
As  to  how  long  he  taught  here  there  is  no  record.  He 
began  teaching  about  the  time  that  Mr.  Nussman  made 
his  missionary  journeys. 

EARLY  METHODISM  AND  COKESBURY  SCHOOL. 

The  people  called  Methodists  were  few  in  North  Caro- 
lina until  after  the  Revolution.  In  1773  no  regularly 
organized  church  was  in  existence  in  America.  At  this 
time  there  were  only  one  thousand,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  members  of  the  society,  and  ten  preachers.      None 


1.  Bernheim.  p.  259. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  260. 

3.  Ibid,  p,  262. 


64  THE  CHURCH  .\ND  PRIVATE 

of  these  were  from  ISTorth  Carolina.^  Jlowever,  by  1785 
there  were  eighteen  thousand  members,  of  which  number 
about  four  thousand  were  from  this  State  ;  and  to  supply 
this  whole  flock  there  were  one  hundred  and  four  minis- 
ters.^  It  is  claimed  that  the  work  was  divided  into  fifty- 
two  circuits,  of  which  twelve  were  in  North  Carolina.^ 
In  the  minutes  for  1793  fifty-one  thousand,  four  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  whites,  and  sixteen  thousand,  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  negroes,  were  reported;  and  to 
lead  this  flock  there  were  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
preachers.^  In  this  rapid  growth  North  Carolina  had 
its  share. 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  to  reach  this  State  was 
Rev.  Joseph  Pilmoor.  He  made  a  preaching  tour  from 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  through  eastern  North  and  South 
Carolina,  as  far  south  as  Savannah,  Georgia;  and  this 
journey  was  made  during  the  year  1772.  He,  however, 
did  not  organize  a  society  here  ;  Rev.  Robert  Williams 
has  the  honor  of  organizing  the  first  society  within  the 
bounds  of  our  State. ^  His  regular  field  of  work  was  in 
Virginia,  but  he  came  across  the  boundary  line  occasion- 
ally, and  preached  and  organized  societies  along  the 
Roanoke  river.  ^  The  first  circuit  in  this  State  was  not 
formed  until  three  years  later.  At  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, May  21st,  1776,  the  North  Carolina  Circuit  was 
set  apart ;  and  Revs.  Edward  Drumgoole,  Francis  Poyth- 
ress  and  Isham  Tatum  were  ordained  as  preachers  of 
the  charge.'^  At  the  same  time  six  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  members  were  reported  from  this  circuit.^     In  the 


1.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  p.  f>. 

2.  Ibid.Vol.  I.,p.  24. 

3.  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North'Carolina,  pp.  58-rj9. 

4.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  i^p.  51-o2. 

5.  Moore's  Pioneers  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  p.  44;  R, 
Willis-Thesis  at  Trinity  College,  June,  1893. 

6.  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  48. 

7.  Ibid.  p.  IX,;  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  p.  7. 

8.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  p.  7. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  65 

miuutes  for  the  same  year  Pittsylvania  Circuit,  with  one 
hundred  members,  is  found.  This  circuit  was  partly  in 
Virginia  and  partly  in  North  Carolina.  It  was  by  Rev. 
Isaac  Rollins,  preacher  of  this  charge,  that  Methodism 
was  first  preached  in  the  western  part  of  this  State. ^ 
From  1776  to  1781  the  Yadkin  section  was  included  in 
Pittsylvania  Circuit.^  In  1781  Yadkin  is  reported  with 
twenty-one  members;^  and  in  1782  Yadkin  and  Pittsyl- 
vania were  reported  together  with  four  hundred  and 
ninety-one  members.'*  At  this  same  conference  three 
preachers  were  ,  reported  from  Yadkin :  Revs.  John 
Cooper,  Enoch  Matson  and  George  Kimble.^  It  may 
seem  that  more  has  been  spoken  of  Yadkin  than  its  im- 
portance deserves.  However,  it  has  been  given  to  show 
under  what  conditions  Cokesbury  school  had  its  begin- 
ning and  history. 

Bishop  Asbury,  the  great  organizer  of  the  church, 
came  to  North  Carolina  during  the  year  1780.  He 
travelled  and  preached  through  Halifax,  Warren,  Frank- 
lin. Wake,  Granville,  Chatham,  Orange  and  Cumber- 
land counties.^  He  says  that  he  found  the  people  for 
the  most  part  ignorant  and  hard  to  influence  by  his 
preaching.  However,  he  saw  some  evidences  of  real 
true  life  among  a  few  of  them."^  When  he  made  another 
journey  in  1794,  he  found  a  good  many  changes;  there 
had  been  considerable  growth  in  the  number  and  strength 
of  the  preachers  and  members.  This  time  he  visited 
the  western  part  of  the  State.  In  his  Journal  (1852), 
Vol.  II.,  on  page  224,  is  found,  under  the  date  Wednes- 
day, April  2d,  1794,  this  entry  :  ''Came  to  E.'s  meeting- 


1.  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  54. 

2.  Ibid. 

3.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  p.  13. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  16. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  15. 

6.  Moore's  Pioneers  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  p.  24-26. 

7.  Asbury's  Journal  (1852),  Vol.  I.,  p.  376. 


m  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

liouse,  near  Hunting  Creek,  in  Surry  county:  here  I 
met  with  some  old  disciples  from  Maryland,  Delaware, 
and  Virginia,  who  have  known  me  for  these  twenty-two 
years.  Our  meeting  was  attended  with  mutual  pleasure  ; 
my  soul  enjoyed  much  sweetness  with  these  people. 
There  has  been  some  trouble  amongst  them,  but  I  know 
God  is  with  them.  I  was  secretly  led  to  treat  on  sancti- 
fication  at  W.'s;  and  if  the  Lord  will  help  me,  I  am 
resolved  to  speak  more  on  this  blessed  doctrine.  After 
preaching,  I  came  to  Cokesbury  school,  at  Hardy  Jones  ; 
it  is  twenty  feet  square,  two  stories  high,  well  set  out 
with  doors  and  windows;  this  house  is  not  too  large,  as 
some  others  are  ;  it  stands  on  a  beautiful  eminence,  and 
overlooks  the  lowlands,  and  river  Yadkin." 

Cokesbury  school  in  North  Carolina  was  named  after 
Cokesbury  College  at  Abingdon,  Maryland.  Maryland 
was  the  real  cradle  of  Methodism  in  America ;  and  the 
first  Methodist  college  in  the  world  was  Cokesbury. 
This  was  begun  in  1784,  and  continued  till  1796  with 
one  short  interruption.  The  name  was  made  in  honor 
of  the  first  two  bishops — Coke  and  Asbury.^  This  little 
school  in  North  Carolina  was  begun  about  1793.  It  is 
the  oldest  Methodist  institution  in  the  State,  and  the 
second  oldest  in  the  world.  According  to  Asbury,  who 
made  another  visit  to  this  section  in  1799,  the  school 
was  of  a  short  life.  On  page  427  of  his  Journal  (1852) , 
Vol.  II.,  under  the  date  of  October  12th,  1799,  he  says 
that  the  academical  school-house  was  used  for  a  house 
of  God.  The  first  teacher — perhaps  only  one — was  Rev. 
James  Parks.  It  seems  that  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Conference  to  work  here  as  early  as  1793.  In  the  min- 
utes of  1794  he  is  assigned  to  Cokesbury  School. ^  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Hardy  Jones  ;  and   as  was  the 


1.  Steiner's  History  of  Education  In  Maryland,  pp.  229-'245. 

2.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences, p.  56. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  67 

custom  of  that  time  when  ministers  married  located 
there.  Mr.  Parks  seems  to  have  been  a  good  preacher.^ 
What  success  came  to  him  in  the  school-room  the  writer 
can  not  say  ;  nor  has  he  any  idea  of  what  the  course  of 
studies  was.  Rev.  W.  L.  Grissom,  who  had  pastoral 
work  on  the  Mocksville  Circuit,  in  this  section,  1889  and 
1890,  and  who  took  the  time  to  look  up  the  history  and 
exact  location  of  this  school,  tells  the  writer  that  Rev. 
M.  H.  Moore  once  had  in  his  possession  a  Greek  Gram- 
mar with  writing  on  the  fly  leaf  as  follows  :  '^Cokesbury 
School,  Rowan  county,  North  Carolina."  To  this  was 
added  a  name  and  date.  From  this  and  a  few  other  evi- 
dences, one  might  judge  that  it  was  a  classical  school 
in  which  Greek,  Latin  and  Mathematics  were  taught. 
The  school  was  located  in  what  was  then  a  part  of 
Rowan  county,  but  now  Davie  ;  Davie  was  not  formed 
until  1836.2  Asbury  says,  as  has  been  quoted,  that  it 
was  at  the  home  of  Hardy  Jones.  Mr.  Grissom  has 
looked  up  the  old  home-placa  of  Hardy  Jones,  and  says 
that  there  is  within  a  hundred  yards  an  eminence,  from 
which  can  be  had  a  fine  view  of  the  Yadkin  river  and 
its  lowlands.  His  description  corresponds  exactly  with 
Asbury's  ;  and  he  obtained  from  the  oldest  citizens  of 
that  section  direct  testimony  as  to  where  Hardy  Jones 
lived.  The  place  now  belongs  to  the  family  of  Mr.  W. 
A.  Bailey. 3 

SOME    INCORPORATED    SCHOOLS. 

Very  little  more  than  the  names,  location  and  date  of 
incorporation  of  these  is  known.  The  writer  has  en- 
deavored to  make  the  list  fairly  complete:  Smith's 
Academy,  Edenton,  Chowan  county,  1782;  Morgan 
Academy,    Burke    county,    1783;     Davidson    Academy, 

1.  Grissom's  History  of  Methodism  in  Davie  County,  p.  12. 

2.  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches,  Vol.  II.,  p.  137. 

3.  Grissom's  History  of  Methodism  in  Davie  County,  pp.  11-12. 


68  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Davidson  county,  1785;  Kinston  Academy,  Dobbs 
county,  1785;  Grove  Academy,  Duplin  county,  1785; 
Warrenton  Academy,  Warren  county,  1786;  Franklin 
Academy,  Franklin  county,  1786  ;  Pitt  Academy,  Mar- 
tinborough,  Pitt  county,  1786;  Pittsborough  Academy, 
Chatham  county,  1786  ;  Richmond  Academy,  Richmond 
county,  1788;  Currituck  Seminary,  Currituck  county, 
1789  ;  Onslow  Academy,  Onslow  county,  1791 ;  Lumber 
ton  Academy,  Robeson  county,  1791  ;  Stokes  Seminary, 
Wadesborough,  Anson  county,  1791 ;  Tarborough  Aca- 
demy, Edgecombe  county,  1793;  Murfreesborough 
Academy,  Hertford  county,  1794;  Stokes  Seminary, 
Henderson,  Montgomery  county,  1797;  Raft  Swamp 
Seminary,  Robeson  county,  1797;  Bladen  Academy, 
Elizabeth,  Bladen  county,  1797;  Salisbury  Seminary, 
Rowan  county,  1798;  Smithville  Academy,  Brunswick 
county,  1798;  Unity  Meeting-Honse  Academy,  Ran- 
dolph county,  1798 ;  Adams  Creek  Academy,  Craven 
county,  1798;  Fayetteville  Seminary,  Cumberland 
county,  1799  ;  William  Peasley  Academy,  Moore  county, 
1799.1 

From  the  number  of  academies  in  operation  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  one  would 
judge  that  there  was  a  more  general  awakening  on  edu- 
cational matters  than  had  ever  taken  place  in  the  State. 
As  was  stated  in  the  early  part  of  this  sketch,  by  the 
close  of  the  century  North  Carolina  had  about  four  hun- 
dred thousand  inhabitants.  Though  the  tyranny  of  the 
royal  rule  and  the  War  of  the  Revolution  had  hindered 
growth  at  all  times,  still  this  State  had,  upon  the  whole, 
made  steady  progress  from  1750  to  1800.  The  Univer- 
sity began  its  career  in  1795  ;  and  along  with  this  were 


1.  Martin's  Collection  of  Private  Acts  (1804),  Vol.  I.,  p.  405  for  1785,  pp.  428-429  for 
1786,  p.  455  for  1788;  Vol.  II.,  p.  42  for  1791,  p.  51  for  1793,  p.  69  for  1794.  p.  102  for  1796, 
p.  112  for  1797.  p.  181  for  1798,  p.  147  for  1799.  A  large  number  of  these  are  given  by 
Dr.  Smith. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  69 

a  number  of  excellent  academies,  the  most  of  which 
have  been  described  or  named,  to  fight  ignorance.  Rev. 
W.  Winterbotham,  who  published  a  four,  volume  work 
on  ''A  View  of  the  United  States  of  America"  in  1796, 
says:  "There  is  a  very  good  academy  at  Warrenton  ; 
another  at  Williamsborough,  in  Granville,  and  three  or 
four  others  in  the  State  of  considerable  note."  ^  He 
made  this  statement  in  connection  with  a  description  of 
the  University. 

Foote,  in  speaking  of  the  conditions  under  which 
President  Joseph  Caldwell,  of  the  University,  had  to 
struggle,  when  he  began  his  work  with  that  infant  insti- 
tution in  1796,  says:  "There  were  in  operation  in  the 
State,  particularly  in  the  upper  part  of  it,  some  acad- 
emies of  high  merit  and  established  reputation.  The 
embryo  University,  without  apparatus  and  without  a 
competent  number  of  teachers  to  perform  the  labors  of 
the  University,  could,  after  all  the  patronage  of  the 
State,  offer  little  to  draw  students  from  these  established, 

well  known  schools,  to  come  to  Chapel  Hill 

There  was  the  school  of  David  Caldwell,  in  Guilford,  in 
active  operation,  sending  out  its  pupils  to  be  divines, 
physicians  and  lawyers,  and  ultimately  professors  in 
institutions  and  judges  of  the  courts  ;  the  public  were 
not  sure  that  Joseph  Caldwell  could  equal,  much  less 
excell  him.  And  there  was  the  academy  of  Dr.  McCorkle, 
one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  a  man  of  literature  and 
readint^,  kept  in  the  bounds  of  Thyatira  congregation, 
near  to  Salisbury.  And  a  little  further  on  was  the 
school  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wallis,  at  Providence,  twelve  miles 
from  Charlotte,  a  man  of  logical  mind,  connected  with 
a  vehement  spirit,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  And  next  the  school  in  Bethany,  Iredell 
county,  under  the  direction  of  the  well  known  servant 

1.    Winterbotham's  A  View  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Vol.  III.,  p.  214. 


70  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

of  God,  the  Rev.  Capt.  James  Hall,  D.  D.,  the  soldier  of 
the  RevolutioQ,  and  the  leading  domestic  missionary  of 
the  South.     Next,  the  school  at  Rocky  river,  from  which 

many   excellent  men  came To  these  add  the 

public  schools  of  Charlotte,  Mecklenburg,  which  occu- 
pied the  place  of  Liberty  Hall  and  Queen's  Museum; 
the  academy  in  Duplin,  which  has  been  more  or  less 
flourishing;  Science  Hall,  near  Hillsborough;  Warren- 
ton  Academy,  under  Mr.  George,  who,  with  Bingham 
and  Kerr,  were  graduates  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin  ; 
Granville  Hall,  and  the  academies  in  Edenton,  New- 
bern  and  Onslow."^ 

However,  there  was  a  great  amount  of  ignorance  still. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  from  1750  to  1775  hardly  one- 
third  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  could  even  read  ; 
and  that  many  of  this  number  who  could  read  could  not 
write  their  own  names  with  legibility.  From  1775  to 
1800  about  one-half  of  the  people  obtained  what  was  then 
called  a  fair  English  education — *'to  read,  write  and 
cipher  as  far  as  the  rule  of  three.' '  ^  There  had  been  a  good 
many  fine  academies,  but  these  could  not  reach  very 
many ;  and  these  had  as  a  rule  educated  members  of  the 
churches  under  whose  influence  they  existed.  Those  who 
did  not  belong  to  these  churches  were  left  out  of  the 
consideration  of  educational  affairs.  Of  necessity  the 
Church  had  too  much  to  do  for  her  own  members  to 
spend  any  time  with  those  outside  her  bounds.  Those 
were  days  of  teaching  among  their  own  flocks,  not  a 
time  of  missionary  activity  among  the  unbelievers  about 
them.  On  the  other  hand,  those  who  did  not  belong  to 
the  churches,  for  the  most  part,  cared  little  for  the  cul- 
ture and  advantages  of  an  education.     These  academies, 

1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  543. 

2.  University  Magazine,  Nov.  1860.  p,  222— The  County  of  Caswell  in  1810  by  Bart- 
lett  Yancy,  first  published  in  Raleigh  Star,  August,  1810.  This  is  also  given  by  Dr. 
Smith. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  -71 

individual  and  separated  as  they  were,  made  education 
exclusive  and  confined  to  the  few.  There  was  conse- 
quently a  great  need  for  a  school  to  unify  these  and  to 
reach  the  class  outside  of  the  church,  hence  the  found- 
ing of  the  University.  However,  upon  the  whole  North 
Carolina  had  done  a  great  deal  during  the  eighteenth 
century.  li  had  begun  at  the  beginning  of  the  century 
with  almost  nothing  but  a  wild  soil ;  it  had  very  few  in- 
habitants then,  but  at  the  end  almost  a  half  million; 
institutions,  both  political  and  educational,  were  born 
and  partly  matured.  It  gave  over  to  the  nineteenth 
century  a  good  heritage  for  those  times  and  in  such  a 
new  country.  Most  of  the  causes  that  have  shaped  our 
social,  political,  religious  and  intellectual  forms  to  the 
present  time,  originated  in  the  century  that  has  preceded 
ours.  Many  North  Carolinians  were  ignorant,  unap- 
preciative  and  slow  then;  and  many  are  still,  at  the 
close  of  the  nineteen  century,  in  the  same  condition. 


72  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 


Chapter  II. — Schools  from  1800  to  1835. 


SEVERAL   ACADEMIES. 

With  the  birth  of  the  University  the  famous  classical 
schools  of  North  Carolina  began  their  decline.  However, 
many  of  these  were  kept  up  for  many  years  during  the 
first  part  of  this  century  ;  and  some  still  exist,  though 
they  have  had  for  the  most  part  a  few  interruptions. 
Among  those  already  treated  that  had  part  of  their  life 
in  this  period  are  :  Granville  Hall,  which  began  the  last 
year  of  the  eighteenth  century ;  Caldwell's  School  in 
Guilford,  kept  up  till  old  age  told  too  heavily  upon  him, 
perhaps  for  more  than  fifteen  years  after  this  century 
came  in  ;  Clio's  Nursery  and  Science  Hall,  run  till  about 
1835,  when  it  gave  place  to  Davidson  College;  Zion- 
Parnassus  was  in  operation  by  Dr.  McCorkle  till  1811, 
and  with  a  few  intermissions  it  has  been  kept  up  till  the 
present  in  the  Salisbury  High  School ;  the  academies  of 
Newbern  and  Edenton,  w^hich  still  exist ;  Liberty  Hall, 
run  as  an  academy  for  many  years  after  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  by  Dr.  Henderson;  Bingham  School,  the 
oldest  and  most  famous  high  school  in  the  State  ;  and  a 
good  many  of  those  merely  named  under  some  incorpo- 
rated school. 

Rev.  James  Wallis  has  only  been  mentioned  ;  and  de- 
serves a  further  consideration.  His  school  in  New 
Providence  congregation  was  noted  for  many  years,  and 
it  belongs  almost  altogether  to  this  period.  He  was  born 
in  Sugar  Creek  in  1762  ;  was  educated  at  Liberty  Hall 
and  at  Mount  Zion  College  at  Winnsborough,  South 
Carolina.     In  1792  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  New 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  73 

Providence  charge,^  and  remained  here  till  his  death  in 
1819.2  Hq  lived  about  twelve  miles  south  of  Charlotte 
on  one  of  the  roads  leading  to  Camden, ^  and  here  he 
taught  his  school.  According  to  Foote  he  was  ver}^  suc- 
cessful in  his  teaching  as  well  as  in  his  ministry  ;  he  was 
a  trustee  of  the  University  for  some  time.  He  did  not 
need  to  teach  for  a  living,  but  from  the  duty  he  owed 
his  charge  and  his  fellow-men.  He  seems  to  have  kept 
up  this  school  almost  till  his  death,  and  it  w^as  run  for 
several  years  afterwards  by  different  teachers.  "^ 

Rev.  John  Robinson  had  another  noted  school  about 
the  same  time  as  Mr.  Wallis.  He  was  born  in  1768, 
near  Charlotte;^  was  educated  by  Mr.  Archibald  of 
Poplar  Tent,  and  took  his  xV.  B.  degree  from  Mount 
Zion  College.^  His  influence  was  great  in  religious  and 
intellectual  growth.  Foote  says  on  page  446  of  his 
Sketches  that  the  University  conferred  the  D.  D.  degree 
upon  him.  The  writer  finds  that  A.  M.  was  conferred  in 
1810,  when  the  same  degree  was  granted  to  Revs.  James 
Wallis  and  John  McKamie  Wilson  ;  also  that  D.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  Revs.  John  Robertson  (the  same  as  John 
Robinson)  and  John  McKamie  Wilson  in  1829."^  He 
was  ordained  in  1793,  and  was  assigned  the  field  first 
occupied  by  Rev.  Hugh  McAden.  In  1800  he  moved  to 
Fayetteville  and  became  the  resident  minister  of  that 
church.  The  salary  was  so  small  and  the  youth  so  igno- 
rant that  he  opened  a  classical  school.  He  found  the 
duties  of  both  preacher  and  teacher  too  heavy,  and  in 
1801  went  to  Poplar  Tent,  not  far  from  Charlotte.  He 
was  with  this  church  for  about  four  years,  and  was  their 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  247. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  250. 

3.  Ibid,  pp.  244. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  250. 

5.  Ibid.  p.  445. 

6.  Ibid,  p.  446, 

7.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  2 


74  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

teacher  also.  In  1896,  he  went  back  to  Fayetteville 
again  to  teach  and  preacli  for  three  more  years  ;  and 
again  in  1818  came  back  to  Poplar  Tent  to  spend  the 
remaining  part  of  his  life,  which  ended  in  1843. ^  He 
was  very  successful  as  a  teacher  in  both  places,  especial- 
ly at  Poplar  Tent.  It  is  stated  by  Foote  that  many 
leading  men  were  educated  under  him  there.  His  force, 
precision  and  kindness  made  a  deep  mark.  In  addition 
to  his  own  school,  he  made  every  effort  to  promote  sacred 
learning.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  building 
and  organizing  of  Davidson  College,  and  was  chosen 
one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  several  years.  ^ 

Rev.  John  McKamie  Wilson  (also  written  MaKemie) 
was  another  great  educational  power,  especially  among 
the  Presbyterians,  during  the  first  quarter  of  this  century. 
He  was  born  six  miles  from  Charlotte,  within  the  bounds 
of  Sugar  Creek  congregation,  1769  ;3  educated  at  Liberty 
Hall  and  at  Hampden-Sydney  College,  Virginia.  He 
w^as  given  his  first  work  in  Burke  county,  where  he  re- 
mained from  1795  to  1801.  At  this  time  he  came  to 
Rocky  River,  where  he  spent  his  life."^  In  1812  he 
opened  an  academy  about  four  miles  fi'om  his  home.  He 
taught  in  this  till  1824.  His  school  was  very  prosperous. 
A  large  number  of  his  pupils  entered  public  life.  It  is 
stated  by  Foote  that  twenty. five  became  preachers  :  Revs. 
James  Morrison,  N.  R.  Morgan,  Thomas  Alexander, 
John  Silliman,  John  M.  Erwin,  Robert  King,  James  B. 
Stafford,  R.  H.  Morrison,  Elam  J.  Morrison,  Hugh 
Wilson,  Samuel  L.  Watson,  Thomas  Davis,  Cyrus  John- 
ston, Henry  N.  Pharr,  J.  LeRoy  Davies,  William  B. 
Davies,    C.    LeRoy    Boyd,   James    Stafford,    Alexander 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  447. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  450. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  476. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  478-479. 

[to  be  CONTINUED.] 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  75 

E.  Wilson,  James  E.  Morrison,  Robert  Hall,  John  M. 
Wilson,  Dion  C.  Pharr,  William  N.  Morrison,  A.  R. 
Pbarr.i 

The  Caswell  Academy,  near  the  court-house  of  the 
county  by  the  same  name,  was  opened  for  students  in 
1803.  The  first  teachers  were  Rev.  Hugh  Shaw  and  Mr. 
Bartlett  Yancy.  During  the  two  years  which  they 
taught  there  were  about  sixty  pupils.  From  1805 
to  1808  it  did  not  succeed  very  well.  In  1808  Mr.  John 
W.  Caldwell,  the  son  of  Dr.  David  Caldwell,  of  Guilford, 
took  charge,  and  for  some  time  it  w^as  prosperous  under 
his  guidance.  Hico  Academy  was  another  school  in 
Caswell  county,  and  was  in  operation  about  the  same 
time.  It  was  located  near  the  Red  House,  and  was  run 
for  two  or  three  years  by  Mr.  Shaw,  who  wa«  one  of  the 
first  teachers  in  the  Caswell  Academy. ^ 

During  this  time  manj^^  schools  were  in  operation 
throughout  the  State.  Many  of  the  counties,  like  Cas- 
well just  mentioned,  had  one  or  more.  But  for  the  most 
part  these  schools  did  not  become  especially  noted,  ex- 
cept in  their  own  localities.  Those  of  more  than  mere 
local  importance  have  already  been  considered,  except 
Bingham  among  male  academies  and  Salem  Female 
Academy  among  the  higher  institutions  for  girls.  These 
have  played  a  unique  and  interesting  part  in  our  educa- 
tional history.  Next  to  the  University  of  the  State  they 
have  had  the  longest  careers  ;  and  really  Bingham  be- 
gan about  two  years  before  the  State  institution  was 
opened.  In  their  different  spheres  they  both  have  had 
great  influence  upon  the  intellectual  and  moral  growth 
of  the  whole  of  North  Carolina  and  of  much  of  the 
South. 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  485. 

2.  University  Magazine,  Nov.  1860.  p.  222— paper  by  Bartlett  Yancy,  first  pub- 
lished in  the  Raleigh  Star,  August,  1810. 


76  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

BINGHAM    SCHOOL. 

A  few  Statements  were  made  about  the  early  history 
of  this  school  under  the  eighteenth  century  institutions. 
As  has  been  stated,  the  first  principal  was  Rev.  William 
Bingham.  He  w^as  a  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian ;  and 
was  a  man  of  fine  ability  and  culture,  having  graduated 
at  Glasgow  University  with  high  honors.  ^  His  family 
became  involved  in  the  efforts  for  Irish  independence  ; 
and  his  uncle  with  several  more  of  his  relatives  were  ex- 
ecuted by  the  British  soldiers.  He  in  company  with  a 
brother  came  to  America  in  1788.  Though  he  at  first 
landed  at  New  Castle,  Delaware,  he  soon  came  to  Wil- 
mington, North  Carolina.^  His  work  as  a  teacher  in 
Wilmington,  Pittsboro  and  the  University,  has  already 
been  mentioned.  About  1806  he  began  his  school  at 
Hillsboro,  in  Orange  county.  In  a  very  short  while  it 
was  removed  to  Mt.  Repose,  about  five  miles  from 
Mebaneville.  Hsre  for  almost  twenty  years  he  instruct- 
ed the  youth  as  few  others  have  instructed  them.^  Long 
before  his  death  he  had  w^on  a  great  name  for  himself  as 
a  scholar  and  teacher  and  for  his  school  as  a  place  where 
true  manhood  was  developed  and  cultured. 

Upon  his  death  in  1825,  his  oldest  son,  William  James 
Bingham,  became  principal.  He  was  the  second  and 
greatest  of  all  the  principals.  He  took  his  A.  B.  degree 
at  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1825,  and  won 
the  first  honors.*  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  father, 
he  was  studying  law  under  Judge  Murphy.  He  at  once 
took  charge  of  the  school.  Though  he  at  first  did  not 
intend  to  run  it  long,  still  w^as  at  its  head  till  1863.  He 
was  born  in  1802  and  died  in  1866.     His  services  to  this 


1.  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  Dec.  24, 1896,  data  furnislied  by  his  descendants. 

2.  Facts  furnished  by  Maj.  Robert  Bingham  ;  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II., 
pp.  371-372. 

3.  Catalogue,  1874 ;  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II.,  p.  372. 

4.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  95. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  77 

State  and  the  whole  South  were  many  and  great.  In 
1827  he  moved  the  school  from  Mt.  Repose  to  Hillsboro  ; 
and  in  1844  from  Hillsboro  to  Oaks,  Orange  county, 
about  ten  miles  from  the  North  Carolina  Railroad.  He 
lived  in  a  time  that  gave  remarkable  opportunities  in 
his  line  ;  and  he  added  remarkable  ability.  When  he 
began  teaching  was  rather  in  disrepute,  but  he  raised  it 
to  a  high  and  honorable  calling.  He  increased  tuition 
fees  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per 
year.i  He  limited  his  number  to  thirty  students;  and 
one  or  two  years  his  school  had  such  a  reputation  all  ( 
over  the  whole  country,  that  he  had  to  refuse  admission  ] 
to  three  hundred  applicants  each  year.  ■ 

Walter  P.  Williamson,  Editor  of  The  Tarboro  South- 
erner, on  page  372  of  Vol.  II.  of  Our  Living  and  Our 
Dead,  says:  ''His  success  was  pre-eminent;  and  his 
reputation,  though  less  brilliant  than  that  of  some  of 
his  cotemporaries,  was  more  extensive  than  that  of  any 
one  of  the  men  of  his  day,  and  while  he  was  a  stern  and 
rigid  disciplinarian,  I  may  say  truly,  though  upon  the 
testimony  of  others,  that  his  pupils  loved  him  like  a 
father,  and  trusted  him  as  a  tender  and  sympathetic 
friend.  I  venture  to  say  he  was  the  means  of  putting 
more  teachers  upon  the  rostrum,  more  professional  men 
into  the  various  professions,  more  preachers  in  the  pul- 
pit and  more  missionaries  into  the  field  than  any  ten 
other  men  in  the  State." 

in  1857  his  two  sons,  William  and  Robert,  came  in 
with  him.  They  had  just  graduated  from  the  University 
of  the  State  with  fine  distinction. ^  They  increased  the 
facilities  to  a  large  extent ;  and  under  them  the  number 
of  students  was  limited  to  sixty.  Their  method  of  in- 
struction was  of  the  very  highest  grade.     The  father  still 


1.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II.,  p.  372, 

2.  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  Dec.  24,  1896. 


78  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

had  all  the  beginning  classes ;  and  the  sons  did  the 
upper  and  advanced  work.  They  worked  with  boys 
upon  the  principle  that  the  best  teaching  and  training 
is  needed  for  the  youngest. ^  Their  system  of  examina- 
tion was  very  rigid  ;  and  by  this  means  all  of  the  un- 
worthy were  thrown  out  and  those  of  better  talent  and 
industry  took  their  places.  It  was  the  custom  before  the 
war  to  give  wn-itten  examinations,  which  required  in 
several  cases  about  ten  hours  to  answ^er.  Those  w^ere 
days  when  this  school  stood  unequalled  in  the  State  and 
the  whole  South.  For  a  good  many  years  two-thirds  of 
the  first  honor  graduates  of  the  University  were  prepared 
at  Bingham. 2  The  first  class  that  left  them  under  the 
new  name  of  William  Bingham  and  Sons  was  composed 
of  five.  Of  these  four  took  first  honors  at  the  Univer- 
sity ;  and  the  fifth  took  second  honors.  There  were  more 
than  eighty  members  of  this  class  at  the  University  ;  and 
besides  the  four  from  Bingham  but  one  took  first  honors, 
and  he  w^as  from  Horner's,  whose  founder  was  James 
Horner,  a  pupil  of  William  J.  Bingham. 

Just  before  the  Civil  War,  they  built  a  fine  and  com- 
modious academy  building  at  Oaks,  and  were  getting  in 
shape  for  a  more  enlarged  field  of  work  and  usefulness. 
As  soon  as  the  w^ar  came  Robert  gave  up  the  school  to 
his  aged  father  and  his  elder  brother,  William.  From 
beginning  to  end  he  was  a  gallant  and  brave  soldier. ^ 
He  raised  a  company  and  went  to  the  front  at  the  be- 
ginning ;  and  he  was  one  of  Gen.  Lee's  seven  thousand, 
five  hundred  men  at  Appomatox  Court  House.  How- 
ever, the  school  went  right  on  during  the  war,  in  spite 
of  the  general  demoralization ,  the  depreciation  of  money 
and  the  demands  upon  the  teachers  and  pupils  for  police 


1.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II.,  p.  37S. 

2.  Ibid,  Vol.  II..  p.  373. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  374. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  79 

work.i  After  1863  the  father  practically  retired  from 
the  principalship  ;  and  William  then  took  charge  of  the 
management,  though  in  reality  he  did  not  become  nomi- 
nal principal  until  1865. *  William  J.  Bingham  died 
February  19th,  1866  ;  and  his  death  removed  one  of  the 
most  striking  personalties  and  unique  teachers  this  State 
has  ever  produced. 

William  Bingham,  the  third  principal,  was  born  1835, 
and  died  February  18th,  1878.  He  took  his  A.  B.  from 
the  University  in  1856. ^  He  was  of  very  delicate  health, 
hence  did  not  do  active  service  in  the  field  of  war,  though 
he  was  made  a  Colonel  of  the  Confederate  States  Army. 
He  was  equally  great  as  a  teacher,  public  speaker  and 
author  of  text  books.  His  Latin  texts  have  received  the 
greatest  praise.  They  at  one  time  were  used  in  every 
State  in  the  Union,  especially  in  the  South  and  West; 
they  were  perhaps  used  more  extensively  than  the  works 
of  any  other  Southern  author.*  His  first  book  was  a 
Latin  Grammar,  a  rather  small  and  elementary  work  ; 
and  at  the  end  of  the  preface  is  found  :  "  Oaks,  N.  C, 
May  10,  1863."  This  was  published  at  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina,  by  Sterling,  Campbell  and  Albright,  a 
firm  which  published  most  of  the  North  Carolina  books 
during  the  war  times.  During  December,  1863^  a  Csesar 
came  from  his  hands,  written  at  the  same  place.  On 
October  30th,  1866,  he  sent  forth  from  Mebaneville  a  re- 
vised and  enlarged  edition  of  his  Latin  Grammar.  This 
was  revised  the  third  time  by  Prof.  W.  Gordon  McCabe, 
now  of  Richmond,  Virginia.  In  1868  a  revised  Caesar 
came  out.^  He  was  also  the  author  of  an  English 
Grammar  and   Exercise.     The   school   was  moved  from 


1.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II.,  p.  375. 

•2.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  9-5. 

3.  Ibid.  p.  95. 

4.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol,  II.,  p.  380. 

5.  See  Books  In  Greensboro  Female  College  Library. 


80  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

Oaks  to  Mebaneville  in  1865,  where  it  remained  till  its 
removal  to  Asheville  in  1891.  ^  It  was  placed  under  mili- 
tary control  about  the  year  1865  ;  and  so  it  has  remained. 
The  principal  was  given  the  title  and  rank  of  a  Colonel 
by  the  State. 

At  his  death  in  1873  his  brother,  Robert,  became  the 
fourth  principal ;  and  he  still  guides  the  institution.  He 
was  born  in  1838  ;  took  his  A.  B.  degree  irom  the  Univer- 
sity in  1857,  and  later  his  A.  M.  In  his  class  were  Judge 
A.  C.  Avery,  of  Burke,  Hon.  B.  F.  Grady,  of  Duplin, 
Hon.  John  W.  Graham,  of  Orange,  Col.  Thos.  S.  Kenan, 
of  Raleigh,  and  others  equally  distinguished. ^  As  has 
been  mentioned,  he  took  an  active  part  during  the  Civil 
War,  with  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  Southern  States 
Army. 3  His  administration  of  twenty-four  years  has 
been  wise  and  progressive.  He  has  endeavored  to  main- 
tain the  high  standard  of  scholarship  set  by  his  prede- 
cessors ;  and  in  addition  to  this  he  has  increased  the 
patronage  to  a  considerable  extent.  The  faculty  for  the 
year  1874-1875  consisted  of  Major  Robert  Bingham, 
William  Bingham  Lynch,  Captain  T.  L.  Norwood  and 
W.  G.  Quakenbush.4 

Major  Lynch  deserves  some  further  notice  than  a  mere 
mention.  He  was  a  grandson  of  the  first  William  Bing- 
ham. He  took  his  A.  B.,  with  first  honors,  from  the 
University  in  1859,  and  became  a  Lieutenant  of  the 
Confederate  States  Army.^  He  was  Professor  of  Greek 
in  Davidson  College  1860-1864 ;  and  teacher  and  co- 
principal  of  Bingham  School  1864-1879.  W^hile  pro- 
fessor at  Davidson,  he  took  his  A.  M.  at  the  University 
in  1862.     After  leaving  Bingham  he  ran  a  military  school 


1.  Catalogue,  1891,  p.  1. 

2.  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  Dec.  24, 189(5. 

3.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  95. 

4.  Catalogue,  1874.  p.  1. 

5.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  166. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  81 

at  High  Point  until  1883.  From  here  he  went  to  Lake 
Mary,  Florida.* 

They  gave  fine  instruction,  and  they  charged  for  it. 
The  expenses  for  session  of  twenty  weeks  in  1874  were  : 
tuition  $62.50  ;  board  $82.50  ;  books  and  washing  $15.00. 
Their  course  of  studies  at  the  same  time  was  extensive 
for  academical  work.  English  and  Commercial :  first 
year — Spelling,  Reading,  Writing,  English  Grammar, 
Composition,  Geography,  History  and  Arithmetic;  sec- 
ond year — the  same  with  Book-keeping,  Natural  Philoso- 
phy and  Chemistry.  Mathematical  :  Arithmetic  (San- 
ford) ,  Algebra  (Todhunter) ,  Geometry  (Chauvenet) , 
Trigonometry,  Analytical  Geometry  and  Calculus  ;  and 
this  went  through  five  years.  Latin:  Grammar  (Bing- 
ham and  Gildersleevej ,  Caesar  (Bingham) ,  Prose  Compo- 
sition, Sallust,  Ovid,  Vergil,  Cicero,  Livy,  Horace  and 
Juvenal ;  and  this  was  a  five  years'  course.  Greek : 
Grammar  and  Reader,  Prose  Composition  (Jones) , 
Xenophon's  Anabasis  and  Memorabilia,  Herodotus  and 
Homer ;  this  extended  through  three  years.  They  also 
gave  a  course  in  French  and  German,  each  lasting  two 
years.* 

The  school  had  its  first  destructive  fire  in  1882,  and 
again  in  1890.  Maj.  Bingham  immediately  after  the 
second  fire  began  to  look  for  a  new  location.  These  two 
fires  had  consumed  the  library  and  apparatus  ;  and  it 
seemed  best  to  move  the  school  to  some  good  town ,  where 
protection  from  fire  could  be  had.  Several  places  made 
bids  for  it,  among  which  were  Charlotte  and  Asheville. 
Asheville  was  chosen  ;  and,  as  has  been  mentioned,  it  was 
moved  there  in  1891.  New  buildings  were  erected  dur- 
ing that  summer. 

The  city  of  Asheville  has  a  world-wide  reputation   for 

1.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue  of  Davidson  College,  p.  17. 

2.  Catalogue,  1874,  p.  3. 


82  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

its  healthfulness  and  its  natural  beauty.  On  one  of  the 
finest  spots  near  by  is  located  this  school.  The  place  is 
known  as  Bingham  Heights.  Ic  is  indeed  a  beautiful 
spot.  The  French  Broad  sweeps  the  foot  of  the  high 
cliff  of  rocks  ;  toward  the  east  can  be  seen  Black  Moun- 
tain ;  toward  the  south,  Blue  Ridge  and  Pisgah  ;  and 
not  but  a  few  miles  away  is  George  Vanderbilt's  place, 
one  of  the  greatest  in  the  world.  The  buildings  have 
the  best  possible  ventilation  and  sanitary  arrangements  ; 
they  were  made  for  health  and  utility,  not  for  show. 
And  too  their  arrangement  for  managing  boys  is  excel- 
lent. They  are  built  of  brick,  one  story  high  and  one 
room  deiep.  Their  floors  are  doubled,  with  building 
paper  between  ;  and  beneath  the  whole  floor  is  a  coat  of 
cement  and  slate  to  prevent  dampness  from  rising.  The 
rooms  are  made  practically  fire  proof.  The  site  is  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  French  Broad,  and  the 
drainage  is  perfect.  The  dormitories  are  in  eight  sec- 
tions ;  and  a  class-room,  with  quarters  for  a  teacher  be- 
hind, is  placed  in  the  center  of  each  of  the  sections.  To 
move  the  school  to  a  far  away  location  and  to  house  it 
in  buildings  so  well  adapted  to  good  discipline  and  robust 
health,  required  much  knowledge,  judgment  and  skill. 
However,  Maj.  Bingham  was  fully  equal  to  the  demand  ; 
he  had  had  a  personal  experience  of  thirty  years  and  the 
traditional  experience  of  his  school  for  almost  a  hundred. 
To  his  great  experience  he  added  a  careful  study  of  the 
educational  systems  of  the  whole  country. 

The  school  since  its  removal  to  Asheville  has  extended 
its  field  of  patronage,  as  well  as  made  its  equipment  far 
larger  and  better.  The  number  of  pupils  for  the  past 
six  years  has  been  about  one  hundred.^  Its  expenses 
are  still  higher  than  other  schools  in  the  State.  For  a 
school   year  of  forty   weeks  three   hundred  dollars   are 

1.    Catalogues,  1891-1897. 


SCHCX)LS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  83 

charged.  1  It  has  been  a  financial  success  to  a  great  de- 
gree. During  1895,  in- spite  of  the  hard  times,  more 
than  six  thousand  dollars  were  made  from  the  earnings 
above  the  regular  expenses. ^  And  its  course  of  studies 
has  been  extended  in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of  such 
a  location  and  the  times  and  circumstances  in  which  it 
exists.  3  The  faculty  has  been  doubled  in  the  last  ten 
years.  For  the  school  year  1897-1898  it  has  :  Major 
Robert  Bingham,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  Superintendent;  R.  L. 
Grinuan,  T.  B.  Lee,  A.  B.  (University  of  North  Caro- 
lina),  S.  W.  McKee,  A.  B.  (Davidson  College),  St. 
George  T.  Grinnan,  J.  S.  Williams,  A.  B.  (University 
of  North  Carolina) — Captains;  M.  C.  Millender,  M.  D., 
Surgeon;  Major  Charles  L.  Davis  (Brevet  Major  U.  S. 
Army,  author  of  "  North  Carolina  in  the  Continental 
Lines,"  1896). 4 

The  charities  of  this  institution,  like  most  North  Caro- 
lina schools,  have  been  great.  Since  the  beginning  no 
worthy  student  has  been  turned  away  on  account  of 
the  lack  of  means ^  In  1874,  and  for  many  years  before 
and  after  this  date,  they  made  an  offer  of  free  tuition  to 
the  sons  of  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  any  denomina- 
tion ;  also  to  the  orphans  of  ministers,  candidates  for 
the  ministry  and  sons  of  deceased  Masons  without  means.  ^ 
This  gift  meant  a  good  deal,  as  tuition  was  then  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  year.  Now  the 
same  offer  is  made,  except  the  amount  is  only  fifty  dol- 
lars ;  and  this  reduction  of  fifty  dollars  is  the  same  as  is 
given  in  free  tuition  in  most  of  the  schools  and  colleges 
of  the  State. 

The  whole   history   of  this  school  is   interesting   and 

1.  Catalogue,  1897,  p.  34. 

2.  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  Dec.  24,1896. 
8.    Catalogue,  1897,  pp.  32-34. 

4.  Ibid,  1897. 

5.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  II..  p.  .372. 

6.  Catalogue,  1874,  p.  3. 


84  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

unique.  As  an  instance,  during  the  past  twenty  years 
its  pupils  have  come  from  thirty-two  States  of  the  Union, 
and  from  Mexico,  Brazil,  Germany,  Scotland,  England 
and  Siam.  It  has  had  among  its  numbers  one  who  be- 
came Vice  President  of  the  United  States  ;  some  of  them 
have  become  Cabinet  officers,  Senators  and  members  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  other  prominent  offi- 
cials in  our  National  Government.  Its  students  have 
played  a  great  part  in  this  State's  political,  social  and 
intellectual  life.  Among  the  eminent  jurists,  were 
Thomas  Ruffin,  the  greatest  Chief-Justice  North  Caro- 
lina has  ever  had,  and  Justice  A.  C.  Avery,  who  retired 
from  the  Supreme  Bench  of  this  State  at  the  close  of 
1896.  Tod  R.  Caldwell,  Governor  of  North  Carolina  in 
the  troubled  times  of  1871-1874,  Elias  Carr,  Governor 
1892-1896,  Daniel  L.  Russell,  who  is  our  present  Gov- 
ernor— these  and  many  others  of  great  prominence  are 
to  be  found  among  the  number  of  pupils  of  this  historic 
school.^ 

SALEM    FEMALE    ACADEMY. 

A  brief  review  of  the  Moravian  settlements  in  North 
Carolina  was  made  in  the  early  part  of  this  sketch.  Thev 
wdll  be  mentioned  here  only  as  far  as  Salem  is  concerned. 
This  place  w^as  selected  as  the  central  town  of  all  their 
settlements.  It  w^as  chosen  by  Count  Zinzendorf  before 
his  death;  and  afterw^ards  by  Frederick  W.  Marshall, 
who  was  then  Superintendent  of  the  whole  community. ^ 
The  hill  was  surveyed  in  1765,  and  the  square  was  laid 
otfinl766.  The  site  for  this  central  town  was  about 
eighteen  miles  east  of  the  Yadkin  river  and  between 
Middle  Fork    (Wach)    and  Brushy  Fork    (Lick).^     The 


1.  Catalogues  and  points  furnished  by  Major  Robert  Bingham. 

2.  Winkler's  Wlnston-Salem,  p.  30. 

3.  Reichel's  History  of  the  Moravians  in  North  Carolina, p.  61;  Martin's  History, 
Vol.  I.,  Appendix,  pp.  XLIX-LII. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  85 

square  was  three  hundred  feet  long  and  one  hundred  and 
seventy  wide.  The  first  family  house,  built  of  logs,  was 
completed  by  August,  1769.  During  the  next  year  a 
two-story  house,  called  the  Brother's  House,  was  erected. 
This  was  used  as  a  church  till  1771.  ^  In  1772  another 
edifice  was  erected  for  a  meeting  house  ;  and  a  large  bell, 
weighing  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
pounds,  was  placed  in  this  to  serve  as  a  town  clock.  A 
two  stop  organ  was  built  for  the  church  the  same  year.^ 
This  house  served  them  as  a  place  of  worship  till  1800.  In 
1798  another  edifice  for  the  growing  congregation  was 
begun  ;  and  by  November  the  9th,  1800,  it  was  ready  for 
use. 3  It  was  a  remarkable  structure,  and  still  serves 
them  for  church  purposes.  In  this,  at  the  same  time, 
was  built  a  large  pipe  organ  with  fourteen  stops — for  a 
long  time  the  finest  and  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  whole 
State.4 

The  first  minister  of  the  Unitas  Fratrum,  for  this  is 
their  real  official  and  church  name,  was  Rev.  Paul 
Tiersch,  who  came  in  1771.^  Rev.  John  Daniel  Kohler 
came  from  Europe  to  become  their  preacher  in  1784.^ 
He  became  Bishop  in  1790  ;  and  still  served  the  church 
till  1801.  On  June  6,  1802,  Rev.  C.  G.  Reichel,  who 
had  for  some  years  been  minister  and  principal  of  the 
Boys  School  at  Nazareth,  Pennsylvania,  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  Salem. "^  During  1803,  at  the  close  of  the 
fiftieth  year  of  their  life  in  North  Carolina,  they  had  a 
great  meeting  at  Salem.  Many  representatives  were 
there  from  most  of  the  other  churches  of  this  section. 
At  that  time  their  members  were  :    Salem ,  290  ;  Betha- 


1. 

Reichers  History,  pp.  62-63. 

2. 

Robbins'  Winston-Salem,  p.  16. 

3. 

Reichers  History,  p.  105. 

4. 

Martin's  History,  Vol.  I.,  Appendix,  pp.  XLIX-LII. 

5. 

Reichel's  History,  p.  66. 

6. 

Ibid,  p.  96. 

7. 

Ibid,  pp.  1(6-106. 

86  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

bara,  81;   Bethania,   293;    Friedberg,   231;   Friedland, 
135;  Hope,  175. i 

This  church  has  ever  paid  great  attention  to  schools. 
It  is  stated  that  in  1500,  forty-three  years  after  its  be- 
ginning, it  had  a  school  in  each  of  its  four  hundred 
parishes,  besides  higher  institutions.  By  1600  their 
schools  were  the  finest  in  Bohemia.  As  an  illustrious 
example  of  its  schools  John  Amos  Comenius  might  be 
named. 2  As  soon  as  a  settlement  was  well  organized,  a 
church  and  a  school-house  were  erected  ;  they  fully  recog- 
nized that  life  amounted  to  little  without  truth  and  right. 
Salem,  which  signifies  peace,  was  not  slow  to  set  on  foot 
a  movement  for  a  school  for  its  chilcren,  especially  for 
its  girls.  According  to  Martin,  there  was  built  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  square  a  school-house  for  boys 
as  early  as  1794.  To  this  could  go  the  male  children  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  of  those  living  near  around. 
They  could  not  enter  under  six  years  of  age,  nor  remain 
longer  than  till  the  age  of  twelve  or  fourteen.  In  this 
were  taught:  Reading,  Writing,  German,  English, 
Cyphering,  History,  Geography  ;  and  the  rudiments  of 
Latin,  Drawing  and  Music  were  taught  to  some.^ 

The  girls'  school,  which  soon  became  known  as  Salem 
Female  Academy,  was  opened  in  1802.  The  regular 
academy  building  was  begun  October  6th,  1803.  Bishop 
Reichel  conducted  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner- 
stone. The  whole  ceremony  was  unique.  In  the  north- 
west corner  was  placed  a  copper  case  in  which  is  this, 
written  in  English  and  German  :  "In  the  name  of  God, 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  ard  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the 
year  after  the  birth  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ 
one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  three,  on  the  sixth  day 

1.  Reichel's  History,  p.  n2. 

2.  Manuscript  (15,000  words)  of  Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries,  in  Salem  Female  Academy 
Library. 

3.  Martin's  History,  Vol.  I.,  Appendix,  pp.  XLIX-LII. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  87 

of  October,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  the  Independ- 
ence of  the  United  States  of  America,  when  Thomas 
Jefferson  was  President  of  them,  in  the  fiftieth  year  after 
the  settling  of  tlie  first  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  North  Carolina  and  in  the  beginning 
of  building  Bethabara,  in  the  thirty-eighth  year  since 
the  beginning  of  building  Salem,  the  foundation  stone 
of  this  house  for  a  Boarding  School  of  Girls  was  laid  in  a 
solemn  manner,  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Congrega- 
tion, with  fervent  Prayer  to  our  Lord,  that  by  the  School, 
to  be  established  in  this  House,  His  name  may  be  glori- 
fied, His  Kingdom  of  Grace  be  enlarged  in  this  Country 
and  the  Salvation  of  souls  of  those,  who  shall  be  edu- 
cated therein,  be  promoted."^  This  house  was  com- 
pleted in  1804,  and  dedicated  July  16th,  1805.2  Martin's 
History,  Vol.  I.,  appendix,  pages  IXL-LII.,  gives  a  very 
interesting  description  of  this  building.  According  to 
him  it  was  sixty-two  feet  long  and  forty-two  deep.  In 
the  lower  part  were  two  large,  and  some  smaller,  apart- 
ments. In  one  of  these  large  rooms  the  girls  day  school 
was  kept ;  in  the  other  was  the  dining  hall  for  the  board- 
ing pupils.  In  the  upper  story  were  three  large  apart- 
ments, and  one  smaller  one.  In  each  lived  from  fourteen 
to  sixteen  girls  under  the  care  of  two  tutoresses.  The 
small  room  on  this  story  was  used  as  a  sick  room.  Over 
these  rooms  was  a  hall,  sixty  feet  long,  thirty  wide  and 
fourteen  high.  This  w^as  the  sleeping  place  of  the  stu- 
dents under  the  care  of  their  teachers. 

The  first  principal  of  the  academy  was  elected  by  the 
Conference  of  October  31st,  1802, — Rev.  Samuel  G. 
Kramsch.  He  w^as  a  native  of  Silesia  and  at  that  time 
English  minister  of  the  Church  at  Hope,  North  Carolina. 
He   and  his  wife  both  had   had   training  in   boarding- 


1.  ReichePs  Histoiy,  pp.  116-117. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  119-1-20. 


88  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

school  work  and  management.^  There  was  a  girls' 
school  in  Salem  a  short  while  before  the  academy  began. 
It  was  in  the  old  Gemein  Haus  (Congregation  House) , 
which  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square.  The 
second  floor  of  this  was  once  a  church  for  the  congrega- 
tion, but  now  (1800-1802)  a  chapel.  The  lower  floor 
had  three  apartments.  The  minister  occupied  two  of 
these  ;  and  the  south  one  was  used  for  a  girls'  day  school. 

In  1803  there  were  forty-two  little  girls  in  Salem, 
twelve  of  whom  afterwards  became  teachers  in  the  acad- 
emy, one  till  1856.  Of  the  forty-two.  twenty-three  were 
pupils  in  the  school. ^  Early  in  1804,  before  the  build- 
ing was  completed,  four  girls  came  from  Hillsboro  to 
enter  as  the  first  boarding  pupils.  Very  soon  afterwards, 
came  two  from  Halifax,  one  from  Caswell  and  one  from 
Fayetteville.  In  1805,  two  came  from  Camden,  South 
Carolina,  the  first  from  that  State,  which,  next  to  North 
Carolina,  has  furnished  the  largest  number. ^  The  first 
to  occupy  the  new  building  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kramsch, 
their  two  daughters,  twenty  boarders  and  four  teachers.* 

Nine  teachers  entered  into  the  work  during  1804-1805  : 
Miss- Sophia  Dorathea  Reichel,  daughter  of  the  Bishop, 
(1804-09)  ;  Miss  Maria  Salome  Meinung  (1804-07)  ; 
Miss  Johanna  Elizabeth  Praezel  (1804-08)  ;  Miss 
Johanna  Sophia  Shober  (1805-06,  1807-09)  ;  Miss 
Johanna  Elizabeth  Reuz  (1805-20)  ;  Miss  Agnes  Susanna 
Praezel  (1805-16)  ;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Praezel,  in  village  girls' 
school,  (1805-13).^  Of  this  number.  Miss  Praezel  was 
the  most  noted.  She  won  quite  a  local  reputation  as  a 
fine  musician.  It  is  even  said  that  she  had  learned  the 
piano,  harp  and  organ  before  she  was  twelve.     At  this 

1.  Reichel's  History,  p.  116. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  118. 

8.    Ibid,  pp.  119-121. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  121. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  126. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  89 

age  she  was  made  a  teacher  in  the  day  school.  This 
work  was  very  laborious  at  that  time,  as  she  had  to  copy 
all  the  music  for  her  pupils.  She  was  also  organist  for 
the  week-day  services  in  the  church,  which  were  held 
every  evening. 

In  1806  the  first  printed  circular  was  sent  out,  known 
as  the  ''Terms  and  Conditions  of  the  Boarding  School 
for  Female  Education  in  Salem,  N.  C."  The  ages 
when  girls  could  be  admitted  were  eight  and  twelve  ;  and 
at  fifteen  they  had  to  leave.  The  expenses  for  the  whole 
year  amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  dollars, 
five  dollars  entrance  money  being  added.  The  regular 
course  of  studies  was :  Reading,  Grammar,  Writing, 
Arithmetic,  HistOT'y,  Geography ;  German  and  Plain 
Needle  Work  were  given  if  desired.  Music,  Drawing  and 
Ornamental  Needle  Work  were  extra. ^  Those  who  de- 
sired entrance  had  to  make  application.  **It  is  desirable 
that  such  as  are  applied  for  should  have  had  small  or 
kine  pox  and  measles.  "^ 

In  those  early  days  the  home  life  was  made  as  perfect 
as  possible.  The  students  were  divided  into  companies 
of  fifteen  and  twenty  girls.  Each  company  was  in 
charge  of  two  lady  teachers  ;  and  these  served  alternate 
days.  The  teacher  was  always  there  to  help  and  give 
counsel;  and  the  principal  was  their  pastor,  father, 
guardian  and  friend.  Mr.  Kramsch  was  a  botanist,  and 
gave  each  girl  a  small  garden.  In  this  she  cultivated 
the  flowers  which  she  collected  while  on  her  daily  walks.  ^ 

In  those  early  times  the  conveniences  of  traveling 
were  very  few.  The  horse  and  coach  were  in  use  in 
some  sections  ;  in  many  places,  however,  traveling  on 
horseback  was  the  common  thing.     It   was  in   this  way 


1.  Relchers  History,  pp.  121-122. 

2.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

3.  Ibid. 


90  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

that  many  girls  came  to  Salem  Female  Academy.  They 
came  for  hundreds  of  miles  in  company  with  father  or 
older  brother,  and  often  in  company  with  several  com- 
panions. When  they  reached  the  school,  the  horse  was 
sold  and  the  saddle  laid  away  till  the  girl  finished  her 
course  of  studies.  When  they  once  entered  they  re- 
mained until  their  education  was  completed  ;  it  was  too 
much  trouble  to  go  home  on  vacation. ^  They  did  not 
have  long  summer  vacations  as  now,  but  only  a  few  days 
rest  during  the  mid-summer.  During  these  rest  days 
the  girls  made  themselves  merry  in  many  ways,  especially 
by  picnics  and  excursions  into  the  country. 

In  1806  Mr.  Kramsch  gave  up  the  principalship  to 
Rev.  Abraham  G.  Steiner.  He  was  a  native  of  Beth- 
lehem, Pennsylvania.  His  administration  lasted  about 
ten  years,  and  was  in  every  way  successful.  In  1807  a 
third  room  was  added  ;  and  a  fourth  was  needed  soon 
afterwards,  and  was  built  in  1811.  This  same  year  a 
house  was  built  for  the  principal  and  his  family,  so  as 
to  give  more  room  for  pupils.  This  house  is  still  the 
home  of  the  principal .  The  pupils  came  in  so  fast  to- 
ward the  latter  part  of  his  administration,  that  many  of 
them  could  not  obtain  accommodations  in  the  school 
building  and  had  to  lodge  in  private  families. ^  From 
May,  1804,  to  the  end  of  the  year  1807  as  many  as  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four  girls,  from  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and 
Georgia,  received  their  education  there. ^  As  a  rule  the 
institution  was  very  healthful,  though  at  one  time  in 
1814  there  were  seventy-four  cases  of  measles. 

In  1807  the  first  certificate  of  scholarship  was  given. 
Its  wording  is  exceedingly  queer:      ''Be  it   known  that 


1.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

2.  Reichel's  History,  p.  122. 

3.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 


SCHOOLS  OP  NORTH  CAKPLiIifA.'*^  91 


Miss ,  daughter  of of Co.,  State  of 

,  has  for  soinetime  past  resided  and  been  a  pupil 

in  the  Boarding  School  for  Female  Education  in  Salem, 
N.  C,  and  as  she  is  now  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  said 
Institution,  the  Inspector  and  Tutoresses  of  the  same  can 
not  withhold  from  her  the  testimony  of  applause  due  her 
for  her  general  good  conduct  as  a  pupil  in  said  Institu- 
tion. She  has  followed  her  studies  with  all  assiduity 
and  has  made  good  progress  therein,  very  willingly 
submitted  to  the  rules  of  the  school,  and  by  her  good 
conduct  and  strictly  moral  behavior,  has  gained  the 
good  will  and  esteem  of  those  under  whom  she  has  been 
placed,  and  the  sincere  regard  of  the  whole  school. 
Given  at  Salem  the  29th  of  October,  1807,  for  myself, 
and  in  the  name  of  the  Tutoresses  of  the  said  Institution. 
Abraham  Steiner,  Inspector. "^ 

In  1806  Mr.  Steiner,  on  account  of  a  failure  ol  health, 
gave  up  the  principalship  to  Rev.  Gotthhold  Benjamin 
Reichel ;  and  he  continued  as  a  teacher  and  book-keeper. 
Mr.  Reichel  was  the  son  of  Bishop  Riechel,  and  served 
the  school  well  indeed  till  his  death,  December  20th, 
1833.  He  was  also  pastor  of  the  Salem  Church  from 
1829  to  1833.  The  school  increased  under  him,  and  by 
1824  an  addition  to  the  building  w^as  necessary — a  school- 
room and  chapel. 2 

Some  of  the  quaint  and  primitive  customs  during  his 
term  of  office  are  worthy  of  notice.  In  their  large  com- 
mon dormitory  were  little  snow  white  beds.  The  floor 
was  covered  with  white  sand,  swept  into  many  dififerent 
patterns.  In  the  center  stood  the  long  table  with  its 
rows  of  benches.  The  girls  were  "  day-keepers  "  by 
turns,  two  at  a  time,  and  performed  all  of  the  services 
for  the  living  room,  such  as  bringing  water  and  carrying 

1.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

2.  Reichel'S  History,  pp.  123-124 ;  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 


92  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

wood.  Friday  was  a  general  house  cleansing  day.  The 
teachers  and  pupils  cleaned  the  dirty  candle  sticks  and 
washed  new  sand  for  the  floors.  The  dining  hall  was  in 
the  basement,  and  was  of  two  rooms,  one  for  the  two 
youngest  companies  and  the  other  for  the  older  pupils. 
The  girls  seated  themselves  on  benches,  and  the  teacher 
sat  on  a  stool  at  the  head  of  the  table.  As  soon  as  all 
were  still,  the  teacher  began  singing  the  blessing,  "Leave 
Thy  Peace  divine  with  us,  we  are  thine."  The  table 
cloth  was  coarse,  home-made,  tow  linen  ;  the  plates 
pewter,  the  knives  and  forks  steel ;  and  the  tea  or  coffee 
was  drunk  from  bowls  without  handles.  On  certain  days 
this  table  ware  had  to  be  scrubbed  with  rushes.  Toward 
the  close  of  the  principalship  of  Mr.  Reichel,  it  is  said 
that  a  certain  lady  while  visiting  the  school  was  so  much 
displeased  at  the  table  appointments,  that  she  sent  to 
the  store  and  purchased  China  plates  and  cups,  and  cot- 
ton table  clothes.  Their  fare  was  wholesome,  though 
very  plain.  The  boarding  department  was  in  charge  of 
the  Single  Sisters  until  1859  ;  and  they  ran  it  for  the 
support  of  their  establishment.  Nine  o'clock  was  the 
hour  for  the  pupils  to  be  in  bed  ;  and  the  teachers  were 
in  by  ten.  Their  dress  was  simple  and  made  by  them- 
selves. They  did  not  wear  hats  when  they  went  to 
church,  but  caps  made  of  white  bobinet,  lined  with 
strands  of  floss  and  tied  under  the  chin  with  ribbon.^ 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Reichel,  Bishop  Bechler  took 
charge  for  the  time.  In  1834  Rev.  John  Christian 
Jacobson  became  principal.  He  was  at  the  time  of  his 
election  minister  of  Bethania ;  and  he  served  for  ten 
years.  In  1844  he  left  for  Nazareth,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  became  principal  of  the  Boarding  School  for 
Boys.  In  1835  a  new  chapel  was  built;  and  by  1841 
the  Congregation  House  was  given  over  to  school  pur- 

1.    Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  93 

poses  alone.  The  school  had  one  hundred  and  eighty 
boarding  pupils  in  1838  ;  and  to  teach  this  number  there 
were  nineteen  teachers,  besides  the  principal. ^ 

During  the  year  1840  the  following  circular  was  sent 
out : 


( ( 


TERMS  OF  THE  INSTITUTION  FOR  FEMALE  EDUCATION, 


Entrance 5.00 

Board  and  Washing  and  Tuition,  including  Read- 
ing, Grammar,  Writing,  Arithmetic,  History, 
Geography,  the  use  of  the  Globes,  Composition, 
Natural  Philosophy,  Chemistry,  Botany,  Latin, 
French,  Drawing  and  Painting,  Plain  Needle- 
work ,  &c  per  quarter 30.00 

Instruction  in  Music  per  quarter 5.00 

Instruction  in  Ornamental  Needle-work  per  quarter     3 .00 

For  the  use  of  the  Library  per  quarter 1 .00 

Books,  Stationary,  Medicine  and  Medical  attendance, 
and  other  contingent  expenses,  placed  to  account. 
One  hundred  dollars  paid  in  advance. 
Clothes  found  by  Parents  or  Guardian,  or  placed  to 
account. 

Bills  adjusted  semi-annually,  and  full  payment  to  be 
made  at  the  removal  of  a  pupil.  The  amount  of  Board, 
Tuition,  and  contingent  expenses  mfiy  be  calculated  at 
Two  Hundred  Dollars,  more  or  less  for  one  year. 

"No  pupil  admitted  without  seasonable  application 
by  letter,  post-paid,  mentioning  name,  age  &c,  nor 
unless  an  affirmative  answer  be  previously  given  by  Rev. 
John  C.  Jacobson,  Principal  of  the  Boarding  School, 
Salem,N.  C."2 

In  1844  Rev.  Charles  Adolphus  Bleck  took  charge. ^ 
During  his  administration  of  four  years  the  idea  of 
making  some  of  the   courses  of  studies   more   advanced 


1.  Reichel's  History,  p.  124. 

2.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

3.  Reichel's  History,  p.  124. 


94  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

was  incorporated.  Until  this  time  those  who  desired  to 
take  French  had  to  recite  to  the  principal  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  When  Mr.  Bleck  came  in,  a 
select  class  of  eight  or  ten  boarders  and  two  day  pupils 
was  formed  and  taught  by  Mrs.  Denke,  who,  as  Maria 
Steiner,  had  taught  in  the  institution  from  1811  to  1828^ 
and  had  spent  two  years  in  Europe. ^ 

In  1848  Rev.  Emil  Adolphus  de  Schweinitz  became 
the  sixth  principal. ^  He  at  once  established  the  custom 
of  annual  examinations.  These  were  very  exciting  times, 
and  the  method  by  which  they  were  carried  on  was  in- 
teresting as  well  as  quaint.  It  is  said  that  for  sometime 
before  these  were  to  be  held  crowds  came  in  coaches  and 
on  horseback  ;  and  that  the  whole  town  opened  its  doors 
to  receive  the  visiting  patrons  in  true  hospitality.  It 
required  a  week  or  more  for  the  private  examinations. 
These  were  conducted  in  the  Chapel  by  the  principal. 
In  those  times  he  was  versed  in  the  whole  course  of 
studies  ;  it  was  not  a  time  of  specialists.  It  seems  that 
the  teachers  taught  during  the  year  and  the  principal 
examined  at  the  close.  The  last  day  of  the  examinations 
was  always  public,  and  was  one  memorable  in  the  lives 
of  all  the  students.  In  the  Church,  in  which  this  always 
occurred,  there  were  many  decorations  and  specimens  of 
the  work  done  by  the  pupils  during  the  past  year.  The 
first  thing  on  the  programme  of  that  day  was  the  roll- 
call,  to  which  each  pupil  gave  an  answer  by  rising  and 
making  her  best  bow.  After  this  came  the  dialogues, 
music  and  other  exercises.  In  one  or  the  other  each  girl 
had  to  take  part ;  and  often  there  were  exercises  in  all 
of  the  subjects  studied  during  the  year.  These  public 
examinations   during   the   next    administi'ation   became 


1.  Reichers  History,  p.  129. 

2.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

3.  Reicliel's  History,  p.  124. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  95 

public  eDtertainraeiits,  whicli  eventually  evolved  into 
the  present  commencements.^ 

In  1853  Rev.  Robert  de  Schweinitz,  a  brother  of  Emil 
Adolphus,  took  charge  of  the  school.  He  held  the  posi- 
tion twelve  years,  and  these  were  very  important  years 
in  its  history.  During  1854  the  first  catalogue  was  sent 
out ;  and  about  the  same  time  the  old  Congregation 
House  was  torn  down  and  a  new  building  begun.  The 
contents  of  the  old  corner  stone  were  placed  into  the 
new,  known  as  the  New  Academy.  By  March  24th, 
1856,  the  new  building  was  ready  for  occupancy,  and 
the  school  was  moved  into  its  larger  and  more  handsome 
quarters.'^ 

Prom  the  manuscript  of  Miss  Fries,  which  the  writer 
finds  very  interesting  and  accurate,  and  from  ReichePs 
History  of  the  Moravians  in  North  Carolina,  appendix, 
pages  192-195,  the  Principal's  official  report  of  the  new 
building  is  given  :  "The  dimensions  of  the  main  build- 
ing are  100  feet  front  by  52  feet  deep,  with  a  wing  at  the 
north  70^x34+  feet,  and  another  at  the  south  77x44  feet. 
The  main  building,  as  well  as  the  north  wing,  is  four 
stories  on  the  front,  and  at  the  rear  (on  account  of  the 
descent  of  the  ground)  five  stories  including  the  base- 
ment. The  fronts  of  the  house  are  of  pressed  brick,  ex- 
pressly manufactured  for  our  building,  and  are  probably 
some  of  the  first  of  the  kind  made  in  our  State." 

These  were  very  prosperous  years.  During  the  year 
1856  there  were  three  hundred  and  fifteen  pupils,  of 
whom  two  hundred  and  thirty  were  boarders.  To  in- 
struct this  number  there  were  eighteen  resident  and 
eleven  non-resident  teachers.  Up  to  the  close  of  this 
same  year,  there  had  been  in  the  institution  three  thous- 
and four  hundred  and  seventy  students,   and   one  hun- 


1.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

2,  Ibid;  Reichel's  History,  p.  125. 


96  THE  CHUKCR  AND  PRIVATE 

dred  and  twenty-four  instructors.  Of  this  number,  only 
two  teachers  and  twelve  pupils  had  died  while  in  the 
school.^  As  the  Civil  War  came  on  the  school  grew 
larger  still  ;  those  times  were  the  most  prosperous  in 
numbers  the  school  ever  had  in  its  whole  history.  Salem 
Academy  was  regarded  as  a  place  of  safety,  and  many 
pupils  were  sent  there  then  on  that  account.  The  au- 
thorities of  the  school  soon  had  to  send  out  the  announce- 
ment that  "there  was  no  more  room;  but  if  you  will 
bring  beds  we  will  try  to  board  you."  These  too  w^ere 
prosperous  years  in  moral  and  intellectual  growch.  The 
school  went  on  without  a  single  day's  interruption. ^ 
The  din  of  war  was  near,  but  they  went  on  their  accus- 
tomed quiet  way.  That  was  indsed  a  great  oasis  in  the 
desert  left  by  devastating  war  around.  That  was  a  time 
when  young  hearts  were  bound  so  closely  together  that 
they  have  never  since  been  disunited.  Find  the  pupil  of 
Salem  Female  Academy  of  those  days,  and  you  will  feel 
that  loyalty  and  love  for  institutions  as  you  have  never 
felt  before. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  war  Stoneman's  Brigade 
marched  upon  Salem.  The  valuable  papers  were  taken 
from  the  office  and  placed  under  the  stone  floor  of  the 
cellar  of  the  Principal's  house  ;  and  the  money  was  hid- 
den beneath  the  floor  of  the  sitting  room.  When  the 
brigade  reached  the  town,  the  mayor,  principal  and 
other  citizens  surrendered  the  place  and  the  academy,  and 
asked  for  a  guard  to  be  stationed  about  the  latter.  This 
request  for  protection  was  granted  and  the  school  went 
on  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  The  brigade  was  in 
camp  south  of  town  for  about  two  days,  but  found  the 
place  so  peaceful  and  quiet,  that  they  soon  pulled  up 
and  left.     The  large  crowd  of  intelligent  girls  conquered 

1.  Reichel's  Historj-,  p.  129. 

2.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  97 

tlie  whole  brigade,  and  with  little  trouble  or  iDCon- 
venience  to  themselves.*  The  school  has  been  and  is  the 
greatest  of  all  powers.  It  goes  forth  to  battle  quietly , 
but  in  the  end  conquers  all  things. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  school  was  full  to  the  brim. 
During  1866  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  new  names  were 
added  to  the  record-book,  the  greatest  number  of  any 
one  year.  On  February  21st  of  the  same  year  the  acad- 
emy was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  as  a  regular 
college.  The  act  of  incorporation  is  as  follows:  "The 
faculty  of  said  School,  that  is  to  say,  the  President,  Pro- 
fessors, Teachers,  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Trus- 
tees, shall  have  the  power  of  conferring  all  such  degrees 
or  marks  of  literary  distinction,  or  diplomas,  as  are 
usually  conferred  in  colleges  and  seminaries  of  learning."  ^ 
At  the  same  time  the  course  of  studies  was  raised  to  a 
considerable  extent.  At  the  close  of  the  school  year 
1865-1866,  Mr.  De  Schweinitz  gave  up  the  principalship 
to  go  to  Nazareth  Hall,  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  Maximillian  E,  Grunert,  who  had  been  in  the 
faculty  as  first  professor  for  sometime,  took  charge 
During  his  superintendence  the  school  went  on  prosper- 
ing, till  it  was  visited  b}^  a  great  scourge  of  small-pox. 
This  caused  great  anxiety  and  somewhat  lessened  the 
numbers,  though  not  a  single  student  ever  died  from  the 
disease.  In  1873  he  had  the  old  building  changed  and 
improved,  to  very  much  the  appearance  of  the  new.  In 
1877  Rev.  J.  Theophilus  Zorn  became  principal.  He 
set  on  foot  a  school  journal,  known  as  The  Academy, 
which  was  first  issued  in  March,  1878,  and  has  been  pub- 
lished ever  since.  It  was  during  this  year  that  the  first 
Senior  Class  was  formed.  ^ 

In  1884   Rev.   Edward   Rondthaler  became  principal, 

1.    Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries. 

•2.    Catalogue,  189^1897,  pp.  21-26. 

3.    Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries;  letter  from  Principal  J.  H.  Clewell. 


98  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

and  Rev.  John  H.  Clewell  assistant.  Mr.  Rondthaler 
was  at  the  time  pastor  of  the  Salem  congregation,  and 
later  became  Bishop  of  the  Southern  Province  of  the 
Moravian  Church.  When  he  took  hold  the  attendance 
was  not  very  large,  it  having  gradually  gone  down  for 
the  past  several  years.  He  brought  a  new  life  to  the 
academy,  increased  its  patronage,  and  made  many  ad- 
vantageous improvements.  As  a  rule  the  Moravian 
Church  has  been  opposed  to  innovations  ;  the  principals 
have  been  very  conservative  in  their  methods.  How- 
ever, Bishop  Rondthaler  made  many  changes  in  the 
dormitories;  also  in  the  course  of  studies  and  plans  of 
teaching.  1 

In  1885  the  academy  received  its  first  endowment. 
The  first  gift  was  to  the  support  oi  the  Art  Department. 
In  consequence  of  the  gift  this  department  has  grown  to 
a  large  extent.  Misses  Troeger  and  Lewis,  of  New  York, 
and  Miss  Siewers,  have  been  the  makers  of  it.  The  music 
instruction  was  for  a  long  time  under  lady  teachers,  but 
in  later  years  skilled  men  have  managed  it.  Profs.  E. 
W.  Linebach,  S.  D'Anna  and  Fredrick  Agthe,  brought 
the  work  up  to  such  a  standard  that  in  1885  a  regular 
course  for  graduation  was  given  in  this  department. 
Profs.  George  MarkgrafF,  Schmolck,  Skilton  and  Shirley, 
have  been  its  directors  since  that  time.  Another  inno- 
vation of  the  same  year  was  the  introduction  of  a  depart- 
ment of  Book-keeping,  Phonography  and  Telegraphy. ^ 
In  1886  the  Alumnae  Association  was  formed.  On  the 
10th  of  October,  1887,  the  Euterpean  Society  was  or- 
ganized, a  few  months  later  the  Hesperian.  In  May, 
1888,  Dr.  Rondthaler  gave  up  the  management  to  the 
present  principal.  Rev.  John  H.  Clewell, ^   though  he  is 

1.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries ;  points  of  letter  from  Principal  Clewell. 

2.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries;  catalogues. 

3.  Ibid. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  99 

Still  superintendent  of  the  department  of  languages.  He 
is  a  native  of  Pennsj^lvania  ;  graduated  at  the  Moravian 
Theological  Seminary  at  Bethlehem,  and  studied  for 
some  years  in  Europe  ;i  given  D.  D.  by  the  University 
of  North  Carolina  in  1880. ^  He  became  pastor  of  Salem 
in  1877.^  His  influence  as  a  teacher  and  preacher  has 
been  very  marked  ;  he  is  easily  one  of  the  leading  char- 
acters of  his  church. 

The  present  principal  has  made  still  more  improve- 
ments ;  his  administration  has  been  wise  and  able.  He 
received  his  education  at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  and 
at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  City.^  Just 
after  his  coming  into  office,  Annex  Hall  was  erected  to 
supply  the  demand  for  room.  When  this  was  completed 
a  new  nomenclature  was  adopted.  The  old  academy 
now  has  the  name  of  South  Hall;  the  new  academy, 
Main  Hall,  and  the  Bagge  House,  Old  Annex.  In 
September,  1889,  a  post-graduate  course  was  put  in; 
and  the  degree  of  A.  B.  is  conferred  on  those  who  com- 
plete this  course.  During  December,  1890,  Park  Hall 
was  completed.  By  1892  the  literary  societies  had 
grown  to  such  proportions  that  Society  Hall  was  built 
for  their  use.^  To  a  better  equipment  in  the  way  of 
buildings  have  been  added  apparatus  and  a  stronger 
teaching  force.  The  number  of  students  now  excels  the 
highest  enrollment  of  the  prosperous  days  prior  to  the 
Civil  War.  During  the  year  1896-1897  there  w^ere  en- 
rolled three  hundred  and  twenty-four  pupils.  Of  this 
number  North  Carolina  had  two  hundred  and  fifty  ;  and 
among  the  other  seventy. four  are  representatives  from 
Texas,    Virginia,  Georgia,    South   Carolina,    Alabama, 

1.  Robbing'  Winston-Salem,  pp.  14-16. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  241. 

3.  Robbins' Wlnston-Salem,p.  16. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  14. 

5.  Manuscript  of  Miss  Fries ;  Catalogue  188»-1890. 


100  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

New  York,  Tennessee,  Arkansas,  Florida,  California, 
Brazil  (S.  A.),  Mississippi,  Lousiana,  Kentucky,  New- 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Ore- 
gon, Cuba,  Japan,  Alaska.^ 

The  course  of  studies  is  :  Preparatory — History  of 
England  and  the  United  States,  Arithmetic,  Algebra, 
Latin  ;  Freshman — Latin  Grammar,  Csesar,  Arithmetic, 
Algebra  (Wentworth,  chaps.  6-12) ,  Geometry  (book  I.) , 
French  History,  Physical  Geography,  English  Grammar 
and  Composition,  Natural  History  ;  Sophomore — Cicero, 
Sallust,  Latin  Composition,  French  or  German  Gram- 
mar, Arithmetic,  Algebra  (Wentworth,  chap.  12  to  end) , 
Ancient  History  (Myer's) ,  Geology,  Astronomy,  Eng- 
lish; Junior — Latin  Prose  Composition,  Vergil,  French 
or  German  Grammar  and  Classics,  Solid  Geometry, 
Conic  Sections,  Algebra,  Physics,  Botany,  Biblical 
Literature,  Shakespeare,  Mediaeval  and  Modern  History 
(Myer's) ,  Rhetoric  ;  Senior — Greek ,  Horace,  Latin  Com- 
position, Latin  authors,  French  or  German  Classics, 
Engligh  Literature,  Trigonometry,  Algebra  and  Geome- 
try, Biblical  Literature,  Critical  study  of  the  longer  Eng- 
lish Poems,  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy,  Physiology, 
Chemistry,  Mythology,  Lectures  on  History  and  Essays. ^ 

The  expenses  are  fairly  high  for  North  Carolina 
schools.,  especially  in  these  days.  For  the  w^iole  scholas- 
tic year,  general  tuition,  room  rent,  lights  and  fuel, 
amount  to  tw^o  hundred  and  fift}^  dollars.  In  addition 
to  this.  Instrumental  Music,  Voice,  Elocution,  Drawing, 
Painting,  Private  French,  German,  Latin  or  Greek, 
Business  course,  are  all  extras  ;  and  the  charge  for  each 
one  of  these  is  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars.^ 

Thus  has  this  old  school  grown  and  prospered  till  the 


1.  Catalogue,  1896-1897,  p.  13. 

2.  Catalogue,  1896-1897. 

3.  Catalogue,  1896-1897,  p.  36. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  101 

present  day ;  and  it  will  continue  on  and  on.  It  has 
taken  such  deep  root  in  the  whole  South,  that  it  would 
require  a  complete  reformation  of  society  before  it  could 
be  overthrown.  It  has  become  one  of  the  historic  and 
sacred  centers  of  our  life.  It  has  been  and  is  conserva- 
tive, and  in  many  ways  picturesque  and  unique.  With 
the  beautiful  campus  and  grounds  in  the  rear  and  the 
lovely  old  Salem  square  on  the  front,  it  is  a  very  attrac- 
tive spot.  To  the  outsider  it  has  much  of  the  air  and 
mystery  of  romance,  but  to  those  within  it  is  a  place  of 
charm  as  well  as  of  work,  a  place  where  character  after 
character  has  been  moulded  and  shaped.  As  many  as 
seven  thousand  boarding  and  five  thousand  day  pupils 
have  been  instructed  within  its  walls.  Every  State  in 
the  Union  has  been  represented  among  its  pupils,  and 
as  many  as  a  dozen  foreign  countries.  There  have  been 
two  hundred  and  thirty-two  teachers  in  the  institution 
since  its  founding. ^ 

The  list  of  the  distinguished  alumnse  is  long  and 
famous.  It  would  require  more  space  than  can  be  used 
here  to  name  all  of  them,  hence  a  few  only  will  be  given  : 
Mrs.  Ex-Pres.  Polk  (Sarah  Childress) ,  Mrs.  Stonewall 
Jackson  (Mary  Morrison) ,  Mrs.  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  (Isa- 
bella Morrison),  Mrs.  Martha  Patterson  (Martha, 
daughter  of  Pres.  Johnston),  Mrs.  Hon.  John  Bell 
(Sallie  Dickinson),  Mrs.  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
(Martha  Martin),  Mrs.  Judge  Van  Wyck  (Lydia  Mo- 
venck) ,  Mrs.  R.  M.  Pearson  CMary  McDowell),  Mrs. 
Judge  Wells  of  U .  S.  Court  (Eliza  Covington) ,  Mrs.  Ex- 
Gov.  T.  M.  Holt  (Louisa  Moore),  Mrs.  Gen.  Pender 
(Fannie  Sheppard) ,  Mrs.  Judge  Blukensderfer  (Miss 
Kramsch) ,  Mrs.  Ex-Gov.  D.  L.  Read  (Henrietta  Settle) , 
four  daughters  of  Postmaster-General  Key.^ 

1.  Letter  from  Principal  Clewell. 

2.  Ibid. 


102  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

There  are  but  three  schools  of  the  Moravian  Church 
in  the  United  States  besides  Salem:  Bethlehem,  Naza- 
reth and  Lititz,  Pennsylvania.  However,  there  are 
quite  a  number  in  England,  Germany,  France  and 
Switzerland.  The  academy  at  Salem  is  the  property  of 
the  Moravian  Church,  and  is  governed  by  a  Synod, 
which  meets  every  three  years  and  appoints  three  men 
to  govern  between  the  meetings.  These  three  are  the 
trustees  of  the  academy.  At  present  they  are  :  Rt.  Rev. 
Edward  Rondthaler,  D.  D.,  president;  N.  S.  Siewers, 
M.  D.,  and  Rev.  James  E.  Hall.  The  school  property  is 
worth  about  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  endow- 
ment at  present  amounts  to  only  about  ten  thousand. 
However,  the  buildings  and  grounds  are  free  of  rent.^ 

THE    EPISCOPAL    THEOLOGICAL    SCHOOL. 

In  1832  Rev.  L.  Silliman  Ives,  D.  D.,  the  second 
Episcopal  bishop  of  North  Carolina,  urged  the  conven- 
tion to  establish  and  equip  a  theological  and  classical 
school  under  the  auspices  of  their  church.  A  committee 
was  appointed  for  the  purpose  ;  and  they  located  the 
school  near  Raleigh,  about  one  mile  west  of  the  State 
Capitol.  They  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
and  one-half  acres  of  land.  To  pay  for  this  they  gave 
their  individual  notes  for  sixteen  hundred  dollars. 
Seven  thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars  were  borrowed 
from  the  Episcopal  Fund  to  erect  the  central  building. 
Ex-Gov.  James  Iredell  was  made  chairman  of  the  execu- 
tive committee ;  and  the  whole  work  was  pushed  on 
with  rapidity.  On  the  2nd  of  June,  1834,  the  school 
opened  under  very  flattering  circumstances.  Every 
pupil  had  to  be  as  old  as  fourteen,  but  still  the  institu- 
tion was  full  the  first  year.     During  the   second  session 


1.    Letter  from  Principal  Clewell. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  103 

of  the  first  year  there  were  one  hundred  and  three  pupils 
enrolled,  of  which  eighty-three  were  boarders.  To  ac- 
commodate the  rush  for  the  next  year  another  building 
of  the  same  size  as  the  first  was  ordered  to  be  erected. 
The  expenses  for  board  and  tuition  amounted  to  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  for  the  scholastic  year. 
The  money  promised  on  subscription  came  in  very 
slowly.  There  were  too  many  boys  for  the  masters  to 
control,  and  the  teachers  were  poor  in  discipline.  Very 
soon  the  patronage  ran  down ,  so  that  it  was  decided  to 
close  the  school  July,  1838.  The  debts  by  this  time  had 
amounted  to  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  land, 
except  twenty  acres ,  and  the  furniture  were  sold.  The  trus- 
tees now  proposed  to  leave  out  the  classical  feature  and 
run  it  as  an  exclusively  theological  school.  However, 
the  Diocese  did  not  agree  to  take  part  in  this  move,  and 
the  whole  affair  went  under.  It  failed  largely  because 
of  too  great  numbers  during  the  first  year  and  the  lack 
of  discipline  and  management  on  the  part  of  the  presid- 
ing teachers.  Dr.  Cogswell,  Dr.  Empie,  Mr.  De  Berniere 
Hooper  and  Dr.  Curtis,  were  its  four  masters.^ 

1.    Sketches  of  Church  History  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  297-3U1,  by  Rev.  Jarvis 
Buxton,  D.  D. 


104  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 


Chapter  III. — Defunct  Schools  from  1835  to  1897. 


A  good  many  schools  came  into  existence  from  1835 
to  about  1870,  but  have  long  since  ceased  to  exist.  Much 
in  the  life  of  these  is  interesting.  Several  of  them  ex- 
isted for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  had  great  in- 
fluence in  their  respective  localities,  and  in  some  cases 
throughout  much  of  the  South.  However,  some  of  their 
histor}^  has  been  lost,  and  in  some  instances  the  writer 
has  found  out  very  little.  Only  those  of  importance  will 
be  considered  here. 

CALDWELL    INSTITUTE. 

As  early  as  1833  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  appointed 
a  committee  to  see  after  establishing  a  classical  school 
in  which  Christian  Education  should  be  the  principal 
aim.  On  this  committee  were  several  of  the  leading 
characters  of  the  Presbytery,  among  whom  was  Rev. 
Joseph  Caldwell,  D.  D.,  President  of  the  University  of 
the  State.  They  finally  decided  on  Greensboro  as  the 
location ;  and  it  was  named  Caldwell  Institute  after 
President  Caldwell,  who  was  the  strongest  force  in  the 
whole  educational  system  at  that  time.  They  erected  a 
two-story  brick  building  on  the  spot  just  a  few  feet  south 
of  the  present  track  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley 
Railroad,  through  which  South  Elm  street  now  runs.^ 

The  school  went  into  operation  January  1st,  1836, 
under  the  guidance  of  Rev.  Alexander  Wilson,  D.  D. 
He  was  originally  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  For  some- 
time before  his  coming  to  take  charge   of  the   school  he 


1.    Messrs.  R.  M.  Sloan  and  D.  F.  Caldwell. 


SCH001.S  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  105 

had  beeu  pastor  of  Grassy  Creek  and  other  churches  in 
Granville  county. 

Rev.  Silas  C .  Lindsley ,  of  New  Jersey ,  became  his  as- 
sistant.  He  had  been  teaching  in  the  Greensboro  Acad- 
emy five  years  before  Caldwell  Institute  was  begun. ^ 
This  academy  had  been  run  in  a  building,  used  by  all 
the  denominations  as  a  preaching  place  prior  to  1830 
and  located  where  Ashe  and  Sycamore  streets  now 
corner,  opposite  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  W.  D. 
Trotter.  According  to  the  intention  of  the  first  commit- 
tee, the  principal  served  each  pupil  in  the  capacity  of 
pastor.  The  teachers  also  were  expected  to  give  instruc- 
tion in  religious  subjects.  On  Sunday  each  pupil  was 
required  to  study  some  parts  of  the  Bible  or  Evidences 
of  Christianity,  and  the  Westminster  Catechism.  Greek, 
Latin  and  Mathematics  formed  the  basis  for  intellectual 
work.  2 

The  success  of  the  school  was  great  even  in  the  \ery 
beginning.  By  the  opening  of  the  third  year  another 
teacher  was  added,  Rev.  John  A.  Gretter.  By  the  end 
of  the  sixth  year  one  hundred  students,  from  all  parts  of 
the  State,  were  enrolled  each  year.  In  1837  it  received 
a  charter  from  the  legislature,  according  to  w^hich  the 
trustees  should  all  be  of  the  Orange  Presbytery.  In 
1844  Mr.  Gretter  resigned  to  become  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Greensboro,  and  Mr.  Ralph  Graves 
took  his  place.  The  school  continued  here  until  1845. ^ 
At  this  time  some  contagious  disease  spread  over  Greens- 
boro to  a  considerable  extent ;  and  at  once  there  was  a 
talk  of  moving  the  school  to  another  location.  The 
Presbytery  met  in  Danville,  Virginia,  the  last  week  of 
April,  1845,  and  decided  to  remove  the  institute  at  once. 


1.  Greensboro  Patriot,  May  24, 1845. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  pp.  518-.5I9. 

3.  J,  C.  Wharton,  Greensboro  Patriot.  December  Ifi,  1896. 


106  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Yancey ville,  Oxford  and  Hillsboro  made  bids  for  it. 
On  the  11th  of  June  it  was  finally  decided  to  move  it  to 
Hillsboro.^  After  its  removal,  it  flourished  for  some- 
time. Exactly  when  it  closed  the  writer  has  not  been 
able  to  find  out.  There  was  no  school  in  its  building  at 
Hillsboro  in  1859,  when  Col.  Charles  C.  Tew  established 
his  Hillsboro  Military  Academy  there.  ^ 

GREENSBORO    HIGH    SCHOOL. 

Immediately  after  the  removal  of  Caldwell  Institute 
the  people  of  Greensboro  took  up  the  matter  and  started 
the  High  School.  They  used  the  same  building.  Rev. 
Eli  W.  Caruthers  became  the  first  principal.  Revs. 
John  A.  Gretter  and  Silas  C.  Lindsley,  and  Dr.  Joseph 
A.  McLean,  were  his  associates.  The  classical  depart- 
ment was  under  the  care  of  Caruthers  and  Lindsl-ey ; 
the  mathematical,  under  Gretter  and  McLean;  and  the 
English  was  taught  by  all  of  them.  The  first  board  of 
trustees  was  composed  of:  William  D.  Paisley,  John  M. 
Morehead,  John  A.  Gilmer,  Jeduthan  H.  Lindsay,  John 
M.  Dick,  James  Sloan  and  Robert  Gorrell.^ 

Mr.  Caruthers  remained  principal  about  two  years. 
In  the  Greensboro  Patriot  of  December  4th,  1847,  there  is 
an  advertisment  of  Caruthers'  Classical  School  at  Ala- 
mance, nine  miles  east  of  Greensboro.  In  the  same 
paper  under  date  of  December  25th,  1847,  is  an  adver- 
tisement of  the  Greensboro  High  School,  with  Rev.  J. 
A.  Gretter,  principal  and  professor  of  English,  and  Rev. 
Silas  C.  Lindsley,  professor  of  Latin  and  Greek.  In 
this  same  advertisement  the  terms  are  given  :  tuition 
in  the  classical  department  fifteen  dollars  per  session  ; 


1.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  520, 

2.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol,  I.,  p.  498. 

3.  Greensboro  Patriot,  May  3rd,  1845. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  107 

in  the  English  eight ;  board  from  six  to  eight  dollars. 
As  to  how  long  rhis  school  continued  the  writer  has  not 
been  able  to  find  out  with  exactness.  It  was  flourishing 
for  somewhile,  but  its  importance  was  always  l,ocal.  In 
fact,  it  does  not  deserve  a  place  in  these  papers  of  its 
own  force.  It  has  been  mentioned  so  as  to  give  a  few 
points  on  Mr.  Caruthers,  who  was  the  greatest  force  in 
this  part  of  the  State  for  a  long  while  and  who  in  the 
line  of  the  State's  history  has  done  comparatively  a 
great  deal.  However,  it  has  been  very  difficult  to  find 
out  the  points  in  his  life.  He  deserves  to  be  one  of  the 
best  known  characters  in  our  history,  but  the  fewest 
know  anything  of  him  whatever. 

He  was  born  in  Rowan  county,  North  Carolina, ^  ex- 
actly where  and  when  the  writer  has  never  been  able  to 
find  out ;  graduated  at  Princeton  College  with  A.  B.  de- 
gree in  1817  ;2  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  between  this 
and  1842  ;  in  1854  given  D.  D.  by  the  University  of  the 
State  ;3  came  to  Guilford  county  about  1819  and  became 
co-pastor  of  Buffalo  and  Alamance  churches.  Dr.  David 
Caldwell  had  preached  to  these  congregations  for  almost 
sixty  years,  but  in  1820  he  ceased  to  work  as  pastor  and 
preacher.  Mr.  Caruthers  at  once  became  the  full  pastor 
of  these  charges  ;  and  administered  to  both  of  them  until 
1846.  At  this  time  Buffalo  and  Alamance  dissolved. 
He  remained  with  Alamance  until  July,  1861,  at  which 
time  he  was  asked  to  resign.  His  members  did  not  agree 
with  his  views  on  the  Civil  War.  He  felt  that  it  was  a 
vain  attempt  and  expressed  such  views  in  private  and  in 
the  pulpit.  Many  of  his  congregation  were  strongly  in 
favor  of  it,  and  would  not  permit  their  noble  and  loyal 
pastor  to  speak  opinions  against  it.'^ 

1.  C.  H.  Wiley's  Alamance  Church. 

2.  Diploma  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library. 

S.    General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  •240. 
4.    Col.  Joseph  M.  Morehead,  Greensboro. 


108  THE  CHURCH  ^ND  PRIVATE 

He  was  pastor  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  teaching 
at  Greensboro  and  at  Alamance.  He  died  during  No- 
vember, 1865,  and  was  buried  at  Alamance.  During  his 
whole  life  he  was  a  strong  arm  of  his  church  and  a  great 
factor  in  his  State's  culture.  He  and  Dr.  Caldwell  held 
the  pastorate  of  Alamance  Church  for  ninety-three  years. 
When  his  church  asked  him  to  resign,  they  passed  unani- 
mous resolutions  in  behalf  of  his  great  ability  and  fidel- 
ity. He  never  married,  but  chose  to  spend  all  of  his 
time  in  the  uplifting  of  his  fellow-men.  He  was  modest 
still  progressive,  liberal  and  diligent,  his  life  long.^ 

He  has  made  one  of  the  few  immortal  names  in  the 
church  and  educational  history  of  the  State.  Dr.  David 
Caldwell  can  never  die  ;  neither  can  he  who  has  written 
his  life  and  a  part  of  the  history  of  his  times.  His  first 
historical  work  was  The  Life  of  Rev.  David  Caldwell,  D. 
D.,  published  by  Swaim  and  Sherwood,  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina,  in  1842.  This  is  a  very  valuable  work. 
His  second  book  was  The  Old  North  State  in  1776— 1st 
series,  published  in  1854.  His  third  work  appeared  in 
1856.  It  is  known  as  The  Old  North  State  in  1776— 2nd 
series.  It  is  the  best  written  and  most  accurate  of  all  of 
his  works.  2 

EDGEWORTH    FEMALE    SEMINARY. 

This  institution  was  opened  formally  in  1840,  though 
its  real  beginning  was  about  thirteen  years  earlier.  Rev. 
William  D.  Paisley  moved  to  the  little  village  of  Greens- 
boro in  1820.  He  took  charge  of  a  male  academy,  and 
later  one  for  girls.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  this  town.^^  He  built  the  house  in 
which  Mr.  Robert  M.  Sloan,  who  married  his  third 
daughter,   now  lives.     Just  back  of  this  house  and  be- 

1.  C.  H.  Wiley's  Alamance  Church. 

2.  His  three  books,  found  in  some  libraries. 

3.  J,  C.  Wharton,  Greensboro  Patriot,  November  2o,  1896. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  109 

tween  the  present  residences  of  Mrs.  Judge  Dillard  and 
George  Donnell  was  an  academy^  for  girls,  as  early  as 
1827.  The  first  teacher  in  this  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained 
was  Miss  Judith  Mendenhall.  According  to  the  23rd  of 
February  number  of  the  Greensboro  Patriot,  1831 ,  Miss  Ann 
D.  Salmon,  of  Fayetteville,  was  in  charge  of  this  female 
school.  Then  a  Miss  Uraphries  taught  in  the  same  place 
for  a  short  while.  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hoye  came  to  take 
charge  during  the  year  1.836.  She  in  company  with  an- 
other young  lady,  who  afterwards  became  Mrs.  Robert 
G.  Lindsay,  came  from  Alexandria,  Virginia.  These  two 
had  charge  of  the  female  academy  for  about  three  years. 
Their  success  was  so  great  that  John  M.  Morehead,  Gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina  1841-1845  and  one  of  the  most 
noble  and  illustrious  characters  of  the  State,  became 
interested  in  female  education.  Miss  Hoye  had  made 
such  a  fine  impression  on  his  daughters  while  in  the 
academy,  that  he  at  once  determined  to  erect  a  fine  build- 
ing for  the  purpose  of  higher  female  education  in  North 
Carolina  and  the  South. ^  Dr.  Nereus  Mendenhall,  in 
his  sketch  of  the  New  Garden  Boarding  School,  makes 
the  statement  that  Mr.  Morehead  built  Edgeworth  be- 
cause his  daughters,  who  were  not  Friends,  could  not 
enter  this  Quaker  school.  During  1840  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land,  extending  from  the  old  homestead  of 
the  Mebanes  to  that  which  is  now  the  property  of  Greens- 
boro Female  College,  from  West  Market,  street  on  the 
north  to  his  home,  Blandwood,  on  the  south.  At  his 
own  expense  he  erected  a  large  four-story  brick  building, 
with  all  the  conveniences  for  a  school.  It  was  built  upon 
the  land  now  occupied  by  the  residences  of  Mrs.  Gov.  A. 
M.  Scales  and  Capt.  Neil  Ellington. ^ 

In  1840  Miss  Hoye  became  the  principal.     The  school 

1.  J.  C.  Wharton,  Greensboro  Patriot.  January  6, 1897. 

2.  Letter  from  Mrs.  R.  G.  Lindsay;  Messrs.  R.  M.  Sloan  and  D.  F.  Caldwell, 

3.  Catalogues;  Ibid. 


110  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

was  a  great  success  from  the  very  beginning.  Pupils  be- 
gan to  come  from  many  Southern  States,  from  Texas  to 
West  Virginia.  It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Morehead 
to  make  it  one  of  the  finest  female  schools  in  the  whole 
country  ;  he  spared  neither  time  nor  money  for  its  suc- 
cess. However,  it  was  not  a  money  making  concern  to 
him.  Among  the  early  teachers  with  Miss  Hoye  were 
Misses  Emily  Hubbard  and  Eliza  Rose  of  the  literary 
department,  Misses  Nash  and  Kollock  of  Music  and 
French,  Rev.  John  A.  Gretter  of  Latin,  and  Profs.  Breitz 
and  Brant  of  Music.  In  1844  Miss  Hoye  died,  and  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  D.  P.  Weir  took  charge.  Dr.  Weir  managed 
the  business  of  the  institution,  also  taught  Chemistry 
and  Natural  Philosophy.  They  held  the  principalship 
for  a  short  time  only.  Gov.  Morehead  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  Rev.  Gilbert  Morgan  and  wife,  of  New  York. 
They  began  their  work  early  in  1845. ^  Mr.  Morgan  at 
once  changed  the  course  of  studies,  and  introduced  a 
collegiate  system  in  the  place  of  the  academy  curriculum 
then  in  operation.  He  seems  to  have  understood  the 
best  methods  of  training  and  teaching,  though  it  is  said 
that  his  discipline  was  not  correct  nor  well  carried  out. 
He,  like  those  who  preceded  and  followed  him,  was  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  However,  the  school  was  run 
on  a  non-denominational  plan. 

According  to  an  advertisement  in  the  Greensboro  Pa- 
triot, under  the  date  of  February  1st,  1845,  their  course 
of  studies  was  :  first  department — Davie's  Arithmetic, 
Bullion's  English,  Latin  and  Greek  Grammars,  Town's 
Spelling  Book  and  Analysis,  Webster's  8  vo.  Dictionary, 
Woodbridge  and  Willard's  Geography,  with  the  use  of 
Mitchell's  Outline  Maps,  History  of  the  United  States, 
Book  of  Commerce,  Elements  of  Mythology,  with   lec- 


1.    Mrs.  R.  G.  Lindsay;  Messrs.  R.  M.  Sloan  and  D.  F.  Caldwell;  Greensboro  Pa- 
triot, February  1, 1845. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  HI 

tures  on  Jewish  iVntiquities,  Watt's  on  the  Mind,  with 
lectures  on  Self-Knowledge  and  Self-Culture,  the  French, 
Latin  or  Greek  Language,  with  one  ornamental  branch  ; 
second  department — Davie's  Algebra,  Legendre's  Geom- 
etry, Newman's  Rhetoric,  Lincoln's  Botany,  Paley's 
Natural  Theology,  Ancient  and  Mediaeval  History,  Bur- 
ritt's  Geography  of  the  Heavens,  and  Blair's  Lectures; 
third  department — Maffett's  Natural  Philosophy,  with 
experiments.  Critical  Study  of  the  English  Language 
as  the  Vehicle  of  Thought^ — its  Etymology,  Lexicography 
and  History,  Abercrombie's  Chapter  on  Reason,  with 
lectures  as  a  system  of  Practical  Logic,  Smillie  on  Nat- 
ural History,  with  lectures  on  Astronomy  and  Physi- 
ology, Alexander's  Evidences;  fourth  department — 
Philosophy  of  Mind,  Astronomy  as  a  Science,  Kame's 
Elements  of  Criticism,  Critical  Study  of  Milton  and 
Shakespeare,  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  Princi- 
ples of  Interpretation,  Way  land's  Moral  Philosophy, 
Guizot  on  Civilization,  Butler's  Analogy,  Lectures  on 
the  Harmony  of  Truth,  or  Method  and  Plan  of  Self-Edu- 
cation. There  was  also  a  preparatory  department,  to 
which  girls  of  seven  and  eight  could  go  for  their  training 
necessary  to  enter  the  first  collegiate  class. 

The  first  term  began  on  the  28th  day  of  May  ;  and  the 
second  one,  on  the  13th  of  November.  At  the  close  of 
the  first  session  the  examinations  took  place  before  a 
committee  of  visitors  ;  and  the  final  examinations  at  the 
end  of  the  year  were  public.  The  expenses  per  session  of 
five  months  were:  board,  washing,  fuel,  lights  and  in- 
struction in  the  ordinary  branches  $75.00  ;  Piano  $20.00  ; 
Guitar  $15.00;  Drawing  and  Painting,  each  $10.00; 
Latin,  Greek  and  French,  each  $10.00  ;  Wax-work  $10.00  ; 
Shell-work  $5.00;  Silk  and  Worsted-work  $5.00.  ^ 


1.  Greensboro  Patriot.  February  1st,  18i5.  Miss  Lillian  Weatherly,  in  the  College 
Message,  May,  1897.  gave  these  points.  She  obtained  them  from  the  same  source  as 
the  writer. 


112  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

The  school  was  prosperous  at  once  after  Mr.  Morgan 
took  charge.  By  1848  the  building  had  more  than  one 
hundred  boarders,  and  had  to  be  enlarged.  In  addition 
to  building  more  rooms  for  pupils  they  at  the  same  time 
erected  an  Art  Studio.  This  is  now  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Lucy  H.  Robertson.  Mr.  Morgan  resigned  during 
1849-1850,  and  Prof.  Richard  Sterling,  from  Hampden- 
Sidrey  College,  Virginia,  became  principal.  He  was  a 
fine  teacher  and  won  much  success  for  the  school.  He 
served  until  1862,  when  the  doors  were  closed  by  the 
Civil  War.i  Soon  after  he  took  charge,  the  institution 
was  at  its  highest  point.  Pupils  came  from  all  over  the 
South.  There  were  as  many  as  a  hundred  boarders,  be- 
sides the  day  pupils  from  town.  There  were  ample 
scientific  apparatus,  a  good  library  in  the  school,  and  a 
large  one  belonging  to  the  principal.  The  course  of 
studies  w^as  raised  to  a  considerable  extent.^  The  terms 
were  raised  in  proportion.  According  to  the  catalogue 
of  1856-1857,  board,  washing,  lights,  fuel  and  tuition  in 
English  branches,  amounted  to  one  hundred  dollars  for 
five  months. 

In  order  to  instruct  the  large  crowd  well,  it  required  a 
good  number  of  trained  teachers.  The  faculty  for  1856- 
1857  were  :  Richard  Sterling,  A.M.,  principal  and  pro- 
fessor of  Belles-Lettres  and  Physical  Science  ;  Andrew  J . 
Wood,  A.  B.,  professor  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Lan- 
guages; Isaac  B.  Lake,  A.  B.,  professor  of  Mathematics 
and  Geology  ;  Rev.  J.  J.  Smyth,  A.  M.,  lecturer  on  Moral 
Science  ;  Miss  Sarah  J.  Kollock,  assistant  in  the  English 
Department ;  J.  Jaques  Eyers,  professor  of  Oil  Painting 
and  Drawing;  Heinrich  Schneider,  professor  of  the 
Piano  and  Harp  ;  Miss  Minna  Raven,  instructor  in  Piano 
and  Vocal   Music;  Miss   Bettie   R.   Scott,   instructor  in 

\.    Mrs.  R.  G.  Lindsay. 
2.    Catalogue,  1856-1857. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  113 

Piano  and  Guitar  ;  Miss  M.  Lizzie  Dasenberry,  instructor 
in  Piano  ;  Alfred  M.  Scales,  steward  ;  Mrs.  A.  M.  Scales, 
matron.*  A  Prof.  Maurice  held  the  French  department 
for  some  time.  J.  R.  Wharton,  A.  B.,  was  professor  of 
Mathematics  in  1858  ;2  J.  D.  Campbell,  A.  M.,  was  pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  and  Rhetoric  in  1862.^  Prof. 
Sterling,  in  addition  to  the  management  of  the  school, 
found  time  to  do  a  good  deal  of  writing  in  the  way  of 
text-books,  and  in  publishing  his  own  and  other  works. 
He  and  Prof.  Campbell  wrote  and  published  Our  Own 
Third  Reader  in  1863  ;  and  in  1866  The  Southern  Primer 
came  from  their  hands.  Prof.  Sterling  wrote  and  pub- 
lished Sterling's  Southern  Second  Reader  in  1866,  and 
Sterling's  Fourth  Reader  in  1865.  All  of  these  were 
published  by  Sterling,  Campbell  and  Albright,  of  Greens- 
boro.^ 

There  was  no  school  in  the  building  from  1862  to  1868. 
During  the  war  the  Confederates  used  it  for  a  hospital ; 
and  after  the  surrender  it  was  occupied  by  the  Federals 
for  the  same  purpose.  In  1868  the  property  was  leased 
to  Rev.  J.  M.  M.  Caldwell.  Mr.  Caldwell  was  a  grand- 
son of  Dr.  David  Caldwell,  and  had  had  a  good  deal  of 
experience  with  schools.  He  had  carrif^d  on  a  flourish- 
ing one  at  Rome,  Georgia,  prior  to  the  Civil  War,  but 
during  this  time  he  had  moved  to  Statesville,  North 
Carolina,  and  for  a  short  while  ran  a  school  there. 
From  Statesville  he  came  to  Edge  worth.  In  September, 
1868,  he  opened  up  in  this  place.  The  faculty  was  com- 
posed of:  Rev.  J.  M.  M.  Caldwell,  principal,  professor 
of  Mental  and  Moral  Science  ;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Caldwell,  lady 
principal,    English    Branches;     S.    J.    Stevens,    Mathe- 


1.  Catalogue,  IS-iG-lSoT.    This  list  is  eiven  by  Miss  Weatlierly  in  College  Message, 
May,  1897.    She  obtained  it  from  the  catalogue  in  the  possession  of  the  writer. 

2.  J.  R.  Wharton.  Greensboro. 

3.  See  books  published  by  Sterling  and  Campbell. 

4.  See  their  publications  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library. 


114  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

matics  and  Ancient  Languages  ;  S.  C.  Caldwell,  Natural 
Sciences  ;  Miss  Kate  Pearson,  English  ;  Mrs.  Kliffmuller, 
Art;  Profs.  Silge  and  De  Smit,  Music. ^  Under  these 
faithful  workers  the  school  again  became  prosperous. 
There  were  about  ninety  boarding  and  seventy-five  day 
pupils.  It  continued  until  1871,  when  Mr.  Caldwell's 
school  at  Rome,  Georgia,  again  demanded  his  attention. 
He  left  for  that  place  in  August,  1871 ;  and  Edge  worth 
was  never  again  opened.  The  building  was  then  used  as 
a  residence  by  Mr,  Julius  A.  Gray,  a  son-in-law  of  Gov. 
Morehead  ;  and  during  the  year  1872  it  was  burned.^ 

WAliRENTON    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

Warren  county  is  and  has  always  been  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  State.  The  section  of  country  between  the 
Roanoke  and  Tar  rivers  has  been  noted  for  its  variety  of 
resources,  its  mild  climate,  and  especially  for  its  hospi- 
table and  cultured  people.  '-There  were  no  Tories  in 
Bute"  was  a  saying  as  true  as  it  was  common;  and 
Warren  was  formed  from  this  in  1779.  From  this  county 
have  come  many  of  North  Carolina's  greatest  characters. 
This  was  the  home  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  Macon,  the  most 
unique  and  distinguished  public  man  in  the  State's 
whole  history. 3  There  w^as  a  good  academy  at  Warren- 
ton  in  the  beginning  of  this  century  ;  and  its  female 
schools  from  1841  to  about  1865  were  known  far  and 
wide.  There  were  two  of  these,  and  both  became  equally 
famous.  However,  that  which  was  at  first  called  War- 
renton  Female  Academy,  and  afterwards  Warrenton  Fe- 
male College,  is  a  few  years  the  older. 

This  was  founded  as  early  as  1841,  and  was  located  on 


1.  Letter  from  Mr.  S.  C.  Caldwell,  Tallahasse,  Florida, 

2.  Letter  from  Mr.  S.  C.  Caldwell ;  Mrs.  R.  G.  Lindsay,  Messrs.  R.  M.  Sloan ,  D.  F, 
Caldwell  and  J.  C.  Wharton. 

3.  Wheeler's  Historical  Sketches,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  423-440, 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  115 

the  south  side  of  the  town.  The  trustees  bought  the 
private  residence  of  Mr.  Kemp  Plummer  for  school  pur- 
poses. To  this  they  added  the  old  Presbyterian  Church 
as  a  chapel.  Rev.  N.  Z.  Graves,  a  Presbyterian  preacher 
of  Vermont,  took  charge  as  first  principal.  Mr.  Julius 
Wilcox,  who  was  Mrs.  Graves'  brother,  was  his  assistant 
at  first,  and  afterwards  became  his  associate.  Mrs.  Sarah 
A.  Nichols  was  engaged  as  music  teacher.  Messrs.  Graves 
and  Wilcox  were  both  fine  scholars  and  successful  in- 
structors. The  institution  became  prosperous  imme- 
diately after  its  opening.  In  1846  Hon.  Daniel  Turner, 
who  had  been  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  for  a 
short  while,  became  principal  of  the  academy;  and 
Messrs.  Graves  and  Wilcox  built  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  town,  and  their  school  was  called  Warrenton  Fe- 
male Collegiate  Institute. 

Mr.  Turner  was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  fine  repu- 
tation. His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Francis  S.  Key,  the 
author  of  The  Star  Spangled  Banner.  Under  them  and 
their  assistants  the  school  grew  very  rapidly.  They 
were  made  fine  offers  to  go  to  California,  and  gave  up 
the  institution  to  a  company  of  Warren's  citizens  in 
1856.  The  purchasers  were  :  William  Clanton,  Henry 
Hunter,  Sr.,  John  Buxton  Williams,  Nathan  Milan,  Jo. 
Seawell  Jones,  John  E.  Boyd,  Horace  Palmer,  Sr.  They 
at  once  obtained  a  charter  and  changed  the  name  to 
Warrenton  Female  College.  These  men  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South,  and  the 
school  was  from  this  on  run  as  a  Methodist  institution.^ 

After  the  organization  in  1856,  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Camp- 
bell, a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  be- 
came president.  He  had  around  him  a  large  and  strong 
faculty,  among   whom  was  Edwin   E.   Parham,   M.   A., 


1,    Letters  from  Mrs.  Jo.  Seawell  Jones,  Shocco  Springs,  Mrs.  V.  L.  Pendleton  and 
Mrs.  M.  J.  Wilcox,  Warrenton,  North  Carolina;  catalogues  of  both  schools. 


116  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

who  two  years  afterwards  became  president.  During 
this  time  more  than  one  hundred  pujoils  were  in  the  in- 
stitution each  year  ;  and  they  came  from  many  Southern 
States.  There  was  great  rivalry  between  this  and  the 
sister  Institute  on  the  other  side  of  the  town.  Each 
watched  the  other,  and  both  were  strengthened  by  the 
competition.  Prof.  Parham  kept  it  up  during  most  of 
the  war,  but  left  for  other  fields  in  1866.  Dr.  Turner  M. 
Jones  removed  Greensboro  Female  College  to  the  build- 
ings during  the  latter  part  of  the  period  from  1863  to  1873. 
The  institution  over  which  he  presided  at  Greensboro 
had  been  burned  and  during  the  rebuilding  he  kept  his 
school  at  Kittrel,  Louisburg  and  Warren  ton.  When  Dr. 
Jones  came  back  to  Greensboro  in  1873,  the  school  was 
closed;  and  was  never  afterwards  reopened  as  a  college. 
Mrs.  Mary  Williams  and  Miss  Lucy  Hawkins  have  been 
keeping  in  the  buildings  a  private  school  of  a  high  grade 
for  some  time.  It  had  an  extensive  influence  on  the 
town,  the  county,  the  State  and  a  good  deal  of  the  South. 
Its  course  of  studies  was  about  the  same  as  the  Institute, 
Edgeworth  and  Greensboro  Female  College. ^ 

WARRENTON    FEMALE    COLLEGIATE    INSTITUTE. 

As  has  been  stated,  this  school  began  in  1846.  Messrs. 
Graves  and  Wilcox  had  already  made  a  fine  reputation 
in  the  Warrenton  Female  Academy  ;  and  when  they 
erected  buildings  of  their  own  many  of  their  former 
pupils  came  to  them.  This  institution  continued  as  a 
private  affair.  Luke  Graves,  M.  A.,  came  in  about  1848, 
and  became  an  associate  with  his  brother  and  Mr.  Wil- 
cox. In  1853  Edwin  L.  Barrett  took  his  place,  and  the 
firm  name  became   Graves,   Wilcox  and   Company.     In 


1.  Mrs.  Jo,  Seawell  Jones;  Mrs.  V.  L.  Pendleton;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Wilcox.  Prof.  John 
Graham,  principal  of  Ridgeway  High  School,  has  heen  veiy  kind  in  giving  refer- 
ences.   Prof.  E.  E.  Parham,  Murfreesboro. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  117 

1859  Mr.  Wilcox  bougUt  out  Mr.  Graves  ;  and  the  school 
was  run  by  him  as  principal  till  his  death,  June,  1865. 
From  that  time  until  1880,  when  the  last  collegiate  ex- 
ercises were  held,  it  was  run  by  Mrs.  M.  J.  Wilcox.  It 
had  as  many  as  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  girls  each 
year  for  a  long  while.  Its  pupils  are  scattered  over  the 
whole  South,  but  most  of  them  are  to  be  found  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia.  Its  diploma  graduates  number 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  ;  and  the  gold  medal  grad- 
uates eighty-two.^ 

The  students  were  classed  as  first,  second,  junior  and 
senior.  The  course  of  studies  for  diploma  was  :  First 
class — Reading,  Spelling,  Geography,  Arithmetic  (Emer- 
son's First  Part) ,  History  of  the  United  States,  Natural 
History  ;  Second  class — Arithmetic  (Davies) ,  Geogra- 
phy, Penmanship,  English  Grammar,  History  of  the 
United  States,  Spelling,  French,  Composition,  Reading, 
Moral  Lessons;  Junior  class — Arithmetic,  Algebra 
(Davies),  French,  Latin,  Greek,  Rhetoric,  Botany, 
Natural  Philosophy,  Composition,  Chemistry,  Reading; 
Senior  class — Intellectual  Philosophy  (Abercrombie's) , 
Logic,  Languages,  Astronomy,  Elements  of  Criticism, 
Moral  Philosophy,  Evidences  of  Christianity,  Geology, 
Anatomy  and  Physiology,  Geometry.  There  was  also  a 
course  for  graduation  with  gold  medals.  A  rather  ex- 
tensive course  in  music,  drawing,  painting  and  fancy 
work,  was  added  for  those  who  desired  them.*  The  cost 
of  board,  tuition  in  the  regular  department,  washing, 
fuel  and  lights,  per  session,  amounted  to  about  eighty- 
five  dollars.  The  expense  of  the  extras  was  about  the 
same  as  in  Edgeworth  and  the  other  female  schools  of 
that  time.^ 


1.  Mrs.  M.  J.  Wilcox  and  Mrs.  Jo.  Sea  well  Jones;  catalogues. 

2.  Catalogue,  1856-1857,  pp.  12-13. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  14. 


118  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 


FLORAL    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  was  chartered  in  1847  and,  with  a 
short  interruption  during  the  Civil  War,  was  in  success- 
ful operation  for  about  forty  years.  The  location  was 
in  Robeson  county,  about  four  miles  from  Maxton.  The 
main  building  was  large  and  convenient.  In  addition 
to  this,  there  were  the  Steward's  Hall  and  two  smaller 
ones  on  the  campus.  It  was  under  the  Presbyterian  in- 
fluence from  its  beginning.  One  of  its  first  principals 
was  Rev.  John  R.  Mcintosh.  He  was  at  the  same  time 
pastor  of  the  Centre  Presbyterian  Church,  situated  in 
the  same  grove.  Rev.  Daniel  Johnson  succeeded  him,  and 
carried  it  on  till  the  war  broke  up  the  school.  ^  After  the 
war  it  was  conducted  by  Revs.  Luther  McKinnon,  D.  D., 
1865-66,  and  John  H.  Coble,  Mr.  J.  Luther  McLean  and 
Rev.  Arch  Baker.  Then  several  different  teachers  ran 
it  for  a  short  while  each,  until  its  close  about  fourteen 
years  ago.  At  that  time  the  original  incorporators  had 
died  and  the  institution  had  become  involved  in  debt. 
Since  then  it  has  changed  hands,  but  has  never  amounted 
to  anything  as  an  institution  of  learning.  For  a  long 
time  it  had  an  enrollment  of  about  one  hundred  students. 
They  came  from  Robeson  and  other  neighboring  coun- 
ties, and  from  several  of  the  northern  counties  of  South 
Carolina.  At  one  time  its  reputation  was  more  than 
local  and  its  influence  was  rather  strong.  ^ 

CAROLINA    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  school  was  located  at  Ansonville,  about  ten  miles 
from  Wadesboro.  A  joint  stock  company  w^as  formed  in 
1849,  and  as  a  result  of  their  work  a  large  brick  building 
was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.     This 


1.  Letter  from  Dr.  H.  G.  Hill,  Maxton 

2.  Letter  from  Dr.  Hill,  who  was  kind 


was  kind  enough  to  look  up  several  points. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  119 

building  contained  a  large  chapel  and  twenty-four  large 
rooms.  It  was  ready  for  use  by  1850.  The  institution 
received  a  charter  during  this  year,  and  by  1851  it  was 
opened  for  the  reception  of  students.  Its  first  president 
was  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Smith,  of  Anson  county.  He  served 
but  one  year  and  a  half.  Then  Rev.  Tracy  R.  Walsh 
took  charge,  and  held  the  position  for  ten  years.  The 
school  was  very  successful  for  some  time,  but  came  very 
near  being  wrecked  by  the  rivalry  among  the  stockholders 
on  political  issues.  It  was  suspended  from  1862  to  1864. 
Rev.  J.  R.  Griffith,  of  Virginia,  was  in  charge  for  two 
years  after  this,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Prof. 
James  E.  Blankinship.  He  held  the  presidency  until 
1868,  when  the  institution  closed  as  a  college.  During 
a  part  of  these  years  the  institution  was  very  prosperous, 
having  as  many  as  two  hundred  students.  This,  like 
Floral,  had  about  the  same  course  of  studies  as  most  of 
the  schools  of  its  kind  at  the  time. 

About  1861  the  stockholders  gave  the  property  to  the 
South  Carolina  Methodist  Episcopal  Conference,  upon 
the  condition  that  the  Conference  would  pay  the  ten 
thousand  dollars'  indebtedness  incurred  in  adding  rooms 
to  the  main  building.  However,  only  a  very  few  coun- 
ties in  South  Carolina  took  any  interest  in  it,  and  the 
money  was  never  raised.  Since  it  closed  its  doors  as  a 
college,  it  has  been  run  part  of  the  time  as  a  high 
school.  1 

WESLEYAN  FEMALE  COLLEGE. 

Murfreesboro  has  for  almost  a  half  century  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  cultured  town.  It  has  had  two 
schools  in  its  bounds,  both  of  which  have  at  times  had 
more  than  a  local  influence — the  Wesleyan  Female  Col- 


1.    Prof.  R.  B.  Clarke,  the  present  principal  of  the  High  School ;  Mr.  T.  A.  Clarke 
one  of  the  original  stockholders. 


120  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

lege  and  the  Chowan  Baptist  Female  Institute.  The 
first  of  these  was  opened  in  1853.  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
Davis ^  presided  over  it  for  several  years,  and  won  some 
reputation  for  it.  Revs.  D.  P.  Wills,  C.  B.  Riddick,  J. 
D.  Cowling,  Paul  Whitehead  and  W.  G.  Starr,  ran  it  till 
it  was  burned,  August  5th,  1877.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1881  ; 
and  Prof.  E.  E.  Parham,  who  had  been  at  Warrenton 
for  some  time,  took  charge  for  eleven  years.  Rev.  R.  P. 
Troy,  who  had  had  a  long  experience  in  teaching  at 
Pleasant  Garden,  Goldsboro  and  elsewhere,  became 
president  in  1892.  It  was  again  destroyed  by  fire.  May 
27th ,  1893.  It  was  under  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
South,  and  most  of  its  presidents  belonged  to  the  North 
Carolina  Conference.  It  was  very  flourishing  for  quite 
awhile  before  its  first  fire.  It  is  estimated  that  as  many 
as  fifteen  hundred  students  matriculated  from  1853  to 
1877.^ 

THE    FAYETTE VILLE  FEMALE    SEMINARY. 

This  was  built  by  a  company  of  stockholders,  largely 
of  the  town  of  Fayetteville.  The  corner-stone  was  laid 
June  9th,  1854.  Rev.  W.E.  Pell,  a  prominent  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South,  became  the  first 
principal.  Mr.  W.  K.  Blake  followed  him  and  held  the 
position  for  some  time  ;  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Hooper,  who  carried  it  to  its  close  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  War.  Since  that  time  the  building 
has  been  used  for  many  and  various  purposes.  Col.  T. 
J.  Drewry  has  his  military  academy  in  it  at  the  present. 
Its  patronage  was  never  very  extensive  and  its  impor- 
tance never  great.  It  is  one  of  the  many  female  acade- 
mies or  colleges  that  had  their  beginning  in   the  period 


1.  Deems'  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,  1857,  p.  223. 

2.  Letter  from  Mr,  J.  M.  Wynne,  Murfreesboro;  Rev.  R.  P.  Troy,  Greensboro. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  121 

preceding  the  Civil  War,   and   for  this  reason  has  been 
mentioned.^ 

'A'Znd,   1861,   when   it  wasj 

This  institution  beojan  in  the  town  of  Goldsboro  in 
1834.  The  Borden  Hotel  building  was  used  until  1857, 
when  a  large  four-story  brick  house  was  erected.  The 
original  promoters  were  W.  K.  Lane,  George  A.  Dudley, 
William  Carraway  and  Nickey  Nixon  ;  and  when  the 
new  building  was  proposed,  fifteen  of  Goldsboro 's  best 
citizens  took  stock.  Rev.  James  H.  Brent  was  the  first 
president,  and  served  until  the  new  building  was  about 
ready  for  use.  Then  Dr.  S.  Morgan  Closs  served  as 
president  one  year.  Rev.  S.  Milton  Frost  was  the  pre- 
siding officer  from  1857  to  1862.  The  school  was  then 
suspended  until  1866,  when  Dr.  Closs  revived  it  and  ran 
it  for  three  sessions.  In  1868  the  charter  was  changed, 
and  after  that  it  was  known  as  Goldsboro  Female  Col- 
lege. Prof.  E.  W.  Adams  became  president  when  Dr. 
Closs  left  the  second  time,  and  ran  it  till  1871,  when  it 
was  closed  as  a  college.  Rev.  X.  Z.  Graves,  who  had 
been  connected  with  the  schools  in  Warrenton  for  several 
years,  had  a  private  school  in  the  building  froni  1871  to 
July,  1874.  Manuel  Fetter,  who  had  been  professor  of 
Greek  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina  from  1838  to 
1868,  ran  a  small  school  in  its  buildings  until  1879. 
Rev.  R.  P.  Troy  kept  a  classical  and  mathematical 
school  till  June,  1881,  when  the  building  was  rented  for 
the  Graded  School. - 

YADKIN    COLLEGE. 

This  was  a  venture  made  by  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  and  goes  back  to  1859  for  its  beginning.     This 

1.  Rev.  L.  L.  Nash.  D.  D. ;  Prof.  J.  H.  Myrover,  Fayetteville. 

2.  Dr.  J.  F.  Miller,  Goldsboro;  general  catalogue  of  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  p.  79;  Rev.  R.  P.  Troy;  Deems'  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,  18.57,  pp. 
175-176. 


122        ,  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

church  at  the  present  is  not  very  strong.  It  does  not 
have  a  large  membership,  nor  is  it  especially  rich. 
However,  it  hid  over  it  lor  several  years,  fc^ated  members. 
It  has  not  been  able  to  do^a^feat  cleaT  of  work  in  the 
way  of  schools,  especially  in  North  Carolina.  Neverthe- 
less, many  of  its  members  have  fine  culture  and  educa- 
tion. It  has  a  few  good  schools;  Western  Maryland 
College  at  Westminster,  Maryland,  is  an  instance.  This, 
like  the  other  churches,  has  felt  the  great  need  of  having 
a  school  of  its  own  ;  and  this  demand  showed  itself  very 
strong  during  the  years  just  before  the  Civil  War.  That 
was  a  time  of  many  educational  beginnings. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1856,  Revs.  Alsan  Gray,  W. 
H.  Wills  and  John  F.  Speight,  leaders  of  the  church, 
debated  the  question  of  establishing  a  college,  in  which 
the  members  could  educate  their  sons.  About  this  time 
Jamestown  Female  College  was  put  in  operation  by  some 
of  the  leading  members  of  this  church.  It  did  not  run 
long  before  it  was  burned  down,  nor  was  it  ever  rebuilt. 
Several  plans  were  offered,  but  it  was  finally  decided  to 
locate  a  college  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Henry  Walser, 
who  lived  in  the  western  part  of  Davidson  county,  made 
them  th0  best  offer.  The  North  Carolina  Conference  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  in  1855  accepted  Mr. 
Walser's  offer,  and  decided  to  build  near  his  home. 
Henry  Walser,  D.  L.  Michael,  J.  C.  Crump  and  Rev. 
Jordan  Rominger,  at  once  began  to  erect  a  brick  build- 
ing, two  stories  high,  and  forty  by  sixty  feet.  Mr.  Walser, 
however,  was  the  liberal  giver  in  the  building  enterprise. 
The  site  chosen  was  about  eleven  miles  west  of  Lexing- 
ton and  three  miles  from  Advance,  the  nearest  depot. ^ 

The  school  was  first  named  Yadkin  Institute.     George 

1.    Rev.  J.  N.  Garrett,  Yadkin  College,  who  has  given  the  writer  much  assistance ; 
Mr.  E.  E.  Raper,  Lexington. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  123 

W.  Hege,  A.  B.,  was  the  first  principal ;  and  the  school 
was  opened  in  October,  1856.  He  ran  it  as  a  high  school 
until  February  22nd,  1861,  when  it  was  chartered  as 
Yadkin  College.  Revs.  Alsan  Gray,  A.  W.  Lineberry, 
David  Weisner,  Jordan  Rominger,  Thomas  H.  Pegram, 
Alexander  Robbins,  and  Henry  Walser,  J.  A.  Davis,  D. 
L.  Michael,  George  W.  Hege,  and  B.  F.  Smith,  were  made 
trustees.  Mr.  Hege  was  elected  the  first  president.  He 
served  with  great  credit  till  the  war  broke  up  the  school. 
At  this  time  there  were  about  eighty  pupils,  many  of 
whom  came  from  a  distance.  At  least  three-fourths  of 
these  volunteered  into  the  Confederate  service,  hence  the 
numbers  were  decreased  so  that  operations  were  sus- 
pended. ^ 

In  1867  H.  T.  Phillips  with  the  assistance  of  F.  T. 
Walser  reorganized  the  institution,  and  ran  it  as  a  high 
school  until  1873.  His  success  was  good.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Deans  went  in  as  an  associate  in  1871 ;  and  the  two  put 
new  force  into  the  institution.  In  1873  S.  Simpson,  A. 
B.,  was  elected  president.  He  was  a  man  of  untiring 
energies,  and  put  in  as  his  assistants  earnest  teachers. 
He  continued  with  considerable  success  till  1884.  Dur- 
ing his  administration  there  was  an  annual  enrollment 
of  about  sixty  students  ;  and  these  came  from  Virginia, 
North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina.  Many  of  the  pupils 
of  those  times  have  become  leaders.  Hon.  Z.  V.  Walser, 
the  present  Attorney-General  of  North  Carolina,  and  E. 
E.  Raper,  are  illustrations.  A  new  building,  at  a  cost  of 
about  seven  thousand  dollars,  was  erected  by  President 
Simpson ;  and  many  other  improvements  were  made. 
He  resigned  and  went  to  Western  Maryland  College,  where 
he  is  still  a  professor.  When  he  left  the  college  closed. 
Rev.  A.  R.  Morgan  became  principal  of  a  high  school  in 


1.    Rev.  J.  N.  Garrett  and  Mr.  E.  E.  Raper. 


124  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  college  building  in  1887,  and  remained  till  1889. 
At  that  time  George  W.  Holmes,  A.  B.,  took  chai-ge  ; 
and  he  still  runs  the  school.  ^ 

From  a  catalogue  the  following  course  is  taken  :  Fresh- 
man Class,  first  term — Latin  Grammar,  Greek  Grammar, 
Practical  Arithmetic,  Geography,  Composition,  Latin 
Exercises  ;  second  term — Latin  Grammar,  Csesar,  Xeno- 
phon's  Anabasis,  Greek  Grammar,  Higher  Arithmetic, 
Elementary  Algebra;  Sophomore  Class,  first  term — 
Latin  Grammar,  Vergil,  Ovid,  Herodotus,  Geometry, 
United  States  History,  Natural  Philosophy,  TJniversity 
Algebra;  second  term — Orations  of  Cicero,  Demos- 
thenes de  Corona,  Astronomy,  Trigonometry,  Univer- 
sity Algebra,  German  Grammar,  French  Grammar; 
Junior  Class,  first  term — Sallust,  Homer's  Iliad,  Chem- 
istry, Rhetoric,  German  Reader,  Telemaque,  Analytical 
Geometry  ;  second  term — Cicero  de  Officiis,  Thucydides, 
Navigation  and  Surveying,  Chemistry,  French  and  Ger- 
man Extracts,  Lectures  on  Rhetoric,  General  History  ; 
Senior  Class,  first  term — Tacitus,  Geology,  Metaphysics, 
Mathematical  Astronomy,  English  Literature,  Logic; 
second  term — Classical  Mythology  and  Antiquities,  Lec- 
tures on  International  Law,  Olmstead's  Mechanics, 
Shakespeare's  Plays,  Higher  English. 

CHARLOTTE    FEMALE    INSTITUTE. 

This  institution  was  organized  and  opened  during  the 
fall  of  1857.  Rev.  Robert  Burwell,  D.  D.,  and  his  wife, 
who  had  had  a  select  school  in  Hillsboro  for  twenty 
years  previous,  took  charge.  The  citizens  of  Charlotte 
erected  a  commodious  building.  A  good  faculty  was 
selected  ;  and  they  began  work  with  great  enthusiasm. 
Much  success  came  to  the  school.     By  1859  an  addition 

1.    Rev.  J.  N.  Garrett  and  Mr.  E.  E.  Raper. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  125 

had  to  be  made  to  the  building,  and  the  teaching  force 
was  enlarged  by  bringing  in  J.  B.  Burwell,  a  son  of  the 
principal.  Young  Mr.  Burwell  graduated  from  Hamp- 
den-Sidney  College  in  1853,  and  since  his  graduation 
had  been  teaching  in  boys'  schools  in  Virginia.  The 
school  was  kept  up  by  them  until  1872,  when  they  moved 
to  Raleigh  and  took  charge  of  Peace  Institute.  In  the 
fall  of  1871  S.  J.  Stevens,  who  had  made  quite  a  reputa- 
tion in  Edgeworth  Seminary,  was  added  to  the  faculty. ^ 

When  the  Burwells  moved  to  Raleigh,  Rev.  R.  H. 
Chapman  became  principal.  He  carried  on  the  school 
for  about  two  and  a  half  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Taylor  Martin.  In  1878  Rev  W.  R.  Atkinson  took 
charge.  He  had  been  for  some  time  a  teacher  in  Peace 
Institute.  He  kept  it  up  for  several  years,  and  then 
went  to  Columbia,  South  Carolina.  The  institute  then 
closed  its  doors.  About  one  year  ago  its  name  was 
changed  to  Presbyterian  College  ;  and  Miss  Lillie  Long 
is  now  building  it  up  again. ^ 

Its  advertised  course  of  studies  was  very  much  the 
same  as  in  most  of  the  schools  of  its  kind  already  con- 
sidered. Though  most  of  its  teachers  were  Presbyterians , 
still  it  was  a  private  rather  than  a  church  school.^ 

THOMASVILLE    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  was  begun  February  8th,  1857,  under  the  name 
of  Glen  Anna  Female  Seminary.^  However,  its  real  be- 
ginning goes  back  as  far  as  1849  under  the  title  of  The 
Sylva  Grove  Female  Seminary.  Mrs.  Charles  Mock  ran 
it  with  success  for  some  time.  While  she  was  at  its  head, 
it  was  a  preparatory  school  to  Greensboro  Female   Col- 


1.  Capt.  J.  B.  Burwell,  Statesville;  catalogues. 

2.  Catalogues. 

3.  Ibid. 

4.  Catalogue,  18-58. 


126  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

lege.i  After  her  Rev.  Charles  Force  Deems,  of  the  North 
Carolina  Conference,  had  control  of  it.  In  his  journal 
of  1852,  under  the  date  of  September  18th,  he  states  that 
he  had  bought  the  Mock  place  ;  and  under  the  date  of 
September  25th  says  that  he  had  changed  the  name  to 
Glenanna  in  honor  of  his  wife.  On  December  24th  he 
states  that  Miss  Branson  will  open  the  school  in  January, 
1853.2  He  secured  a  regular  charter  for  it  in  1855,  and 
ran  it  for  a  short  time  thereafter. 

Mr.  John  W.  Thomas  built  the  present  building  at  a 
cost  of  twelve  thousand  dollars.  He  placed  it  upon  a 
sure  footing  and  secured  for  it  a  large  faculty,  though  he 
did  not  teach  himself.  Miss  P.  L.  Lathop  was  principal 
in  1858.  She  had  as  her  assistants:  Misses  Mary  E. 
Nelson,  Sallie  Winkler,  M.  C.  Shelly,  C.  Cunningham 
and  Jennie  Thomas.^  There  were  as  many  as  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pupils  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
War.  Through  the  great  energy  and  correct  judgment 
of  Mr.  Thomas  it  was  kept  up  through  those  stormy 
times.  In  1867  its  name  was  changed  to  Thoraasville 
Female  College.  It  ran  on  with  considerable  success 
until  1873,  when  it  was  closed  for  some  time  in  conse- 
quence of  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas. ^ 

In  1874  the  property  was  purchased  by  Prof.  H.  W. 
Reinhart.  He  ran  it  for  ten  years  as  sole  proprietor, 
and  with  a  large  amount  of  success.  In  1884  Rev.  J.  N. 
Stallings  bought  a  half  interest  and  became  co-principal.^ 
The  institution  continued  here  until  March,  1889,  when 
the  whole  plant,  faculty  and  students,  were  tranferred 
to  High  Point. ^  For  some  time  before  this  the  school 
had  been  going  down,  and  Mr.  Stallings  was  made  offers 

1.  Greensboro  Patriot,  June  30, 1849. 

2.  Charles  Force  Deems,  by  his  Sons,  pp.  113-115. 

3.  Catalogue,  1858. 

4.  Ibid,  1878-1879. 

5.  Ibid,  1883-1884. 

6.  Catalogue  of  High  Point  Female  College,  1891-1892. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  127 

to  move  it  to  High  Point.  On  the  11th  day  of  March, 
1889,  the  High  Point  Female  College  received  a  charter  ; 
and  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month  the  school  was  trans- 
ferred to  its  new  quarters.  It  was  kept  up  here  for 
about  four  years  only  and  then  closed  its  doors.  It  had 
served  for  a  long  while,  and  its  service  was  fairly  good. 
As  many  as  a  dozen  teachers  were  connected  with  it  dur- 
ing half  of  its  existence.  Its  course  of  studies  was  equally 
as  high  as  in  any  female  school  of  those  times.  It  was 
a  private  institution  from  its  beginning,  and  its  princi- 
pals were  of  different  churches. 

JUDSON    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  deserves  mentioning  more  for  the 
great  attempt  that  was  made  rather  than  for  what  it  ac- 
complished. As  early  as  1858  the  Baptist  west  of  the 
Blue  Ridge  began  to  work  up  a  college  for  girls.  The 
Salem  Association,  which  met  at  Old  Salem  Church, 
August  6th,  1858,  considered  the  matter,  and  pledged 
about  nine  hundred  dollars  for  the  building.  A  little 
later  that  year  the  Western  Convention  adopted  the  col- 
lege and  appointed  trustees.  The  name  of  Henderson- 
ville  Female  College  was  agreed  on.  At  the  next  con- 
vention it  was  reported  that  the  building  had  been  let  to 
the  contractor  at  a  cost  of  $11,089.  However,  it  was  a 
long  time  before  this  building  was  ready  for  occupancy. 
In  October,  1882,  it  was  completed;  and  it  had  cost 
about  $15,000.  During  this  long  period  of  building  the 
name  was  changed  three  or  four  times.  It  was  at  one 
time  known  as  the  Western  North  Carolina  Female  Col- 
lege, and  at  another  Judson  Female  College,  and  finally 
Judson  College.  1 

Rev.  J.  B.  Boone,  with  four  or  five  teachers,  ran  the 


1.    Catalogue,  1890-1891;  The  North  Carolina  Journal  of  Education.  December. 
1891,  pp.  67-69. 


128  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

institution  from  its  beginning  to  June,  1889.  They  won 
some  success,  though  the  patronage  was  local  in  most 
cases.  Dr.  R.  H.  Lewis,  A.  M.,  was  elected  president 
in  June,  1889,  and  managed  it  for  three  years.  He  had 
been  teaching  for  about  thirty  years.  He  had  taught  in 
Cumberland,  Warren,  Granville,  Lenoir  and  Henderson 
counties;  also  in  Oxford  Female  Seminary,  Kinston 
College  and  the  University  Normal  School.  He  had 
been  teaching  in  Kinston  since  1877  ;  and  he  still  runs 
a  select  school  there.  When  he  undertook  the  principal- 
ship  of  Judson,  he  surrounded  himself  with  five  good 
teachers  and  began  the  work  with  much  promise.  They 
offered  a  rather  high  course  of  studies,  and  granted  A. 
B.  and  A.  M.  degrees  ;  and  these  were  open  to  both  sexes. 
The  enrollment  during  the  second  year  of  his  adminis- 
tration was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty.  These  came 
from  Buncombe,  Edgecombe,  Haywood,  Henderson, 
Jackson,  Madison,  Mecklenburg,  Mitchell,  Polk,  Swain, 
and  Yancey  counties.  The  debt  incurred  on  the  building 
had  never  been  paid,  and  the  whole  plant  was  sold  under 
mortgage  in  1892  ;  and  since  then  it  has  been  used  as  a 
private  school  and  for  hotel  purposes.* 

HORNER    AND    GRAVES. 

This,  like  Bingham,  was  one  of  the  very  best  equipped 
boy's  schools  of  its  time.  It  was  first  opened  at  Oxford 
in  1851  by  James  H.  Horner,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.^  Mr.  Horner 
was  a  pupil  of  the  Bingham  School  and  graduated  at  the 
University  of  North  Carolina  with  A.  B.  degree  in  1844.^ 
He  was  the  sole  principal  until  1870,  when  R.  H.  Graves, 
Sr.,  A.  M'.,  came  in  with  him.     Mr.  Graves  had  grad- 

1.  Catalogue,  1890-1891;  The  North  Carolina  Journal  of  Education,  p.  67;  letter 
from  Dr.  Lewis,  Kinston. 

2.  Catalogue  of  Horner's  School,  1897-1898. 

8.    General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  149. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  129 

uated  at  the  University  with  A.  B.  in  1836  ;  was  a  tutor 
of  mathematics  in  the  same  1837-1843  ;  and  for  some 
time  after  this  was  a  teacher  in  the  same  department  in 
Caldwell  Institute,  of  Hillsboro.^  The  school  under  the 
name  of  Horner  and  Graves  remained  in  Oxford  until 
1874.  In  January  of  this  year  they  moved  to  Hillsboro. 
Col.  Charles  C.  Tew  had  founded  the  Hillsboro  Military 
Academy  in  1859,  and  carried  it  on  with  fair  success 
until  the  Civil  War  was  in  full  blaze.  In  consequence 
of  his  death  at  Sharpsburg  and  the  decline  of  the  military 
spirit  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the  school  was  never  re- 
opened as  a  military  institution.  Mrs.  Tew  died  in  1870, 
and  in  1872  Mr.  Paul  C.  Cameron,  of  Hillsboro,  bought 
the  property.  The  location  was  excellent  and  the  build- 
ing well  suited  for  a  boy's  school.  He  made  offers  to 
Horner  and  Graves,  whose  success  at  Oxford  had  been 
much  more  than  local.  They  accepted  his  offers  and 
transferred  their  training  school  to  Hillsboro. ^  How- 
ever, they  did  not  continue  together  there  but  two  years, 
when  Mr.  Horner  went  back  to  his  old  place.  Mr.  Graves 
carried  on  the  school  for  about  two  years  after  the  sepa- 
ration.^ 

This  school,  though  of  but  short  life,  had  a  strong  in- 
fluence in  training  boys  for  college.  The  course  of 
studies  was  high,  and  the  manner  of  discipline  rigid. 
The  faculty  was  strong:  J.  H.  Horner,  A.  M. ;  R.  H. 
Graves,  A.  M.  ;  Hugh  Morson,  Jr.;  R.  H.  Graves,  Jr., 
B.  Sc,  C.  and  M.  E.;  Maj.  D.  H.  Hamilton;  A.  W. 
Venable,  Jr.  Mr.  Morson  has  been  in  the  Raleigh  Male 
Academy  for  a  long  time  ;  Mr.  Graves  afterwards  became 
the  famous  mathematical  professor  in  the  University  of 
North  Carolina.'* 


1.  General  Catalogue  of  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  134. 

2.  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  498-500 
a.  Letter  from  Profs.  J.  C.  and  J.  M.  Horner. 

4.  Catalogue,  1874-187.5;  General  Catalogue  of  the  Universitj-,  p.  1U4. 


130  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 


WILSON    COLLEGIATE    INSTITUTE. 

Rev.  Charles  Force  Deems,  D.  D.,  who  was  president 
ol  Greensboro  Female  College  from  1850  to  1854 ^  and 
was  connected  with  several  more  North  Carolina  schools 
at  different  times,  was  the  first  principal.  Immediately 
after  the  session  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  in 
1858,  the  citizens  of  Wilson  made  an  appeal  to  Dr. 
Deems  to  establish  a  school  for  boys  and  girls  at  that 
place.  They  erected  buildings  at  a  cost  of  about  ten 
thousand  dollars  and  supplied  them  with  seven  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  furniture.  They  gave  Dr.  Deems  two- 
thirds  of  all  this  property,  and  proposed  to  pay  his  ex- 
penses on  a  trip  to  Europe. ^  The  school  was  dedicated 
January  13th,  1859,  under  the  name  of  St.  Austin's  In- 
stitute ;  and  the  first  session  began  on  the  17th  of  the 
same  month.  By  the  close  of  this  session  eighty-two 
girls  and  ninety-three  boys  had  enrolled.  Miss  Mary 
Wade  Speed  was  principal  of  the  girl's  seminary  ;  and 
Capt.  James  D.  RadclifFhad  control  of  the  boys.  Courses 
in  English,  Mathematical  and  Classical  branches  were 
offered.     Dr.  Deems  remained  at  its  head  for  four  years. ^ 

Then  D.  S.  Richardson,  A.  M.,  had  charge  for  a  short 
while,  until  the  school  was  suspended  by  the  war.  The 
buildings  were  used  for  a  hospital  by  the  Confederate 
army.  After  the  war  Mr.  Richardson  came  back  and 
ran  it  for  about  four  years.  He  w^as  followed  by  E.  M. 
Nadal.  In  1871  Warren  and  William  Woodard  bought 
the  property;  and  Sylvester  Hassell,  A.  M.,  became 
principal  in  January,  1872.     He  was   at  its   head   until 


1.  Catalogue  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1894-1895,  p.  4 ;  Charles  Force  Deems, 
by  his  Sons,  p.  108. 

2.  Charles  Force  Deems,  by  his  Sons,  pp.  151-153;  letter  from  Rev.  Sylvester  Has- 
sell, Williamston. 

3.  Charles  Force  Deems,  by  his  Sons,  pp.  155-156. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  131 

1886.  Then  Silas  E.  Warren  purchased  the  property, 
and  was  its  principal  until  his  death,  1894.^ 

Mr.  Hassell  was  a  man  of  fine  native  ability  and  cul- 
ture. His  school  was  a  high  grade  academy  at  first, 
but  was  afterwards  changed  into  a  college,  under  the 
name  of  Wilson  College.  His  pupils  came  from  many 
of  the  counties  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  State.  He 
gave  them  a  fine  and  extensive  training  in  most  of  the 
branches  then  taught  in  the  smaller  colleges.  The  in- 
stitution by  the  name  of  Wilson  College  was  the  result 
of  the  union  of  the  Institute  and  the  Female  Seminary. 
The  Seminary  had  for  some  time  been  run  by  John  De 
Berniere  Hooper,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  assisted  at  one  time  by 
Rev.  William  Hooper,  D.  D.  Mr.  John  DeB.  Hooper 
ranks  among  the  finest  teachers  the  State  has  produced. 
He  had  a  service  in  this  line  for  forty-one  years  ;  was 
professor  of  Latin  and  French  1838-1848,  and  of  Greek 
and  French  1875-1885,  in  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina; was  twenty-one  years  in  private  school  work.* 

The  faculty  in  1875  was:  Sylvester  Hassell,  A.  M., 
president,  Physics,  Ethics;  J.  B.  Brewer,  A.  M.,  Mathe- 
matics, Chemistry;  J.  H.  Foy,  Ancient  and  Modern 
Languages;  D.  G.  Gillespie,  Book-keeping,  Banking; 
E.  M.  Nadal,  Mathematics;  Miss  Mollie  A.  Southall, 
Music;  Mrs.  J.  B.  Brewer,  instructor  in  Music;  Miss 
Bettie  A.  Chandler  and  Mrs.  S.  N.  Biggs,  English 
branches;  Miss  Bertha  Tripp,  Drawing,  Painting.^ 


1.  Letter  from  Rev.  Sylvester  Hassell;  Mr.  T.  J.  Hadley,  Wilson. 

2.  Dr.  Dred  Peacock ;  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
pp.  .53,  7t»  and  149. 

3-    Catalogue  of  Wilson  College,  1875-1876. 


132  thp:  church  and  private 


Chapter  IV. — Schools  of  the  Present. 


In  this,  as  in  the  last  chapter,  only  the  schools  of 
more  than  local  importance  will  be  considered.  There 
have  been  many  worthy  high  grade  schools  that  the 
writer  can  not  speak  of  in  this  short  sketch.  Besides 
the  numerous  academies  that  can  not  be  mentioned, 
there  are  many  church  or  pi'ivate  institutions  making 
battle  against  the  powers  of  darkness  still  in  the  Old 
North  State.  Among  these  are  representatives  of  each 
church — Baptist,  Presbyterian,  Quaker,  Methodist,  Epis- 
copal, German  Reformed,  Lutheran,  Christian,  Catholic. 
In  each  the  school  can  not  be  considered  correctly  without 
taking  note  of  the  church  ;  nor  would  the  church  amount 
to  very  much  without  the  school's  influence.  They  have 
both  grown  side  by  side,  and  into  and  out  of  each  other. 
These  will  be  treated  in  the  order  of  the  time  of  their 
opening. 

WAKE    FOREST    COLLEGE. 

This  is  distinctly  a  Baptist  school.  It  stands  at  the 
head  of  all  the  other  institutions  of  this  denomination, 
and  is  the  equal  of  any  of  the  church  institutions  of  the 
State.  Its  history  has  been  inseperably  connected  with 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  Baptist  church.  In 
order  to  present  the  real  conditions  and  circumstances 
under  which  the  school  was  born  and  has  grown,  a  very 
brief  summary  of  the  early  history  of  this  church  will  be 
given. 

As  early  as  1695  there  were  some  of  this  faith  to  be 
found  among  the  colonists  of  North  Carolina.^     Some 


1.    History  of  Grassy  Creek  Baptist  Church,  p.  17. 


SCHOOLS  OF  XORTH  CAROLINA.  133 

came  for  adventure,  and  others  for  religious  liberty. 
The  first  church  was  organized  by  Paul  Palmer  in  1727  ; 
and  this  was  on  the  Pasquotank  river,  now  known  as 
Shiloh  Church.^  This  at  once- became  very  active.  Its 
members  soon  organized  many  churches  in  Gates, 
Chowan,  Perquimans,  Pasquotank,  Camden  and  Curri- 
tuck counties.  In  1729  the  second  church  was  gathered 
together  at  Meherrin,  near  Murfreesboro.^  In  1758 
the  Sandy  Creek  Association  was  formed  in  Randolph 
county  with  nine  churches.  This  is  the  oldest  associa- 
tion in  the  State  and  the  fourth  in  age  in  the  United 
States. 3  In  1765  the  Kehukee  Association  was  formed 
in  Halifax  county'  with  eight  churches.  Four  years 
later  the  Grassy  Creek  Association  was  organized  in 
Granville  county.  This  county  was  then,  and  has  been 
since,  full  of  Baptists.  Until  1770  the  Sandy  Creek  As- 
sociation included  South  and  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia, but  at  the  Convention  of  October  (14th)  of  the 
same  year  a  division  was  made  ;  and  the  churches  of  this 
State  continued  under  the  Sandy  Creek  Association. ^ 

Their  growth  was  rapid  until  the  battle  of  Alamance, 
not  far  from  Sandy  Creek  Church.  After  this  the  strong 
measures  of  Gov.  Try  on  drove  about  fifteen  hundred 
families  from  this  section  ;  and  the  church  was  at  a 
stand  still  for  some  time.  During  the  Revolution  many 
of  the  leaders  of  this  church  took  a  very  active  part.  In 
the  very  first  of  this  century  a  great  revival  swept  over 
the  State,  and  many  additions  were  made  to  all  of  the 
churches  of  this  denomination.  About  this  time  a  move- 
ment was  begun  to  unite  all  of  the  churches  of  this 
State  into  one  organization  for  the  purpose  of  education 

1.  History  of  Grassj-  Creek  Baptist  Church,  p.  17;  Rev.  J.  D.  Hvifham,  D.  D. 
Biblical  Recorder.  December  8. 1897. 

2.  Dr.  Hufham.  Biblical  Recorder. 

3.  History  of  Sandy  Creek  Baptist  Association,  p.  62. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  42;  History  of  Kehukee  Baptist  Association,  pp.  27-81. 

5.  History  of  Grassy  Creek  Baptist  Church,  pp.  72-74. 


134  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

and  missions  ;  and  this  was  accomplished  about  twenty- 
seven  years  later,  when  the  Baptist  State  Convention 
and  Board  of  Missions  were  organized  at  Greenville  in 
1830.1 

It  was  during  the  latter  part  of  this  attempt  to  unite 
on  missionary  and  educational  w^ork  that  there  came 
about  the  schism.  Until  1825  all  the  Baptists  had  be- 
lieved in  missions  and  Sunday  schools  as  far  as  these 
ideas  were  then  known,  but  from  this  until  1830  there 
gradually  grew  an  opposition  party.  This  opposition 
named  itself  Primitive  Baptists,  though  in  reality  it  is 
the  younger,  and  the  progressive  side  assumed  the  name 
of  Missionary  Baptists. ^  The  opposition  has  always 
been  opposed  to  culture  and  progressive  industry,  hence 
is  very  weak.  It  has  had  no  schools,  and  its  influence 
has  amounted  to  very  little.  On  the  other  hand  the  real 
Baptists  have  taken  unto  themselves  the  light  and  powder 
of  the  school-room.  They  have  grown  in  numbers  and 
scrength  until  they  are  to-day  about  the  strongest  relig- 
ious power  in  North  Carolina  ;  and  this  State,  with  three 
hundred  thousand  of  this  faith,  is  the  greatest  Baptist 
Commonwealth  in  the  Union. ^ 

During  the  struggle  for  State  organization  for  educa- 
tional purposes  a  number  of  strong  and  heroic  preachers 
took  part:  Samuel  Wait,  John  Armstrong,  Thomas 
Meredith,  J.  Culpepper,  W.  R.  Hinton,  A.  J.  Battle,  N. 
Richardson,  James  McDaniel,  T.  D.  Armstrong,  John 
Purefoy,  Eli  Phillips,  W.  H.  Merrit,  P.  W.  Dowd,  J. 
Lowell,  William  Burch,  William  Dowd,  J.  Goodman, 
Joel  Gulledge,  W.  P.  Biddle,  James  Dennis,  Eli  Carrol, 
Thomas  Crocker,  John  Monroe,  John  Kerr,  William 
Warrell,  W.  H.  Jordan,  Q.  H.  Trotman,  G.  W.  Hufham, 
George  Fennel,  William  Hooper,  G.  W.  Thompson,  D. 

1.  Dr.  Hufham,  Biblical  Recorder.  December  8, 1897. 

2.  History  of  Grassy  Creek  Baptist  Church,  p.  98. 

S.    J.  W.  Baily,  Editor  Biblical  Recorder.  Address  at  Wilmington,  May  8, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  135 

S.  Williams,  A.  J.  Spivey,  Josiah  Crudup.*  They  did 
well  their  parts,  and  Wake  Forest  College  owes  its 
founding  to  them.  Through  the  efforts  of  different  ones 
of  this  number  the  Chowan,  Neuse  and  Raleigh  Mis- 
sionary Societies  and  the  North  Carolina  Benevolent 
Society  were  organized  previous  to  1830.  During  March 
,(26-29)  of  the  same  year  these  united  to  form  the  State 
Convention.- 

This  Convention  held  its  first  meeting  at  Cross-Roads 
Church,  Wake  county,  in  1831.  There  were  fifty-one 
delegates  present,  from  about  twenty  counties.^  It  was 
reported  that  $819.90  had  been  collected  during  the 
year  for  education  and  missions.  Revs.  Samuel  Wait, 
Thomas  Meredith,  William  Hooper  and  John  Armstrong 
were  the  leaders  of  this  Convention  ;  and  they  were 
deeply  imbued  with  the  educational  spirit.  The  follow- 
ing resolution  was  passed:  ''Resolved,  that  the  Con- 
vention accept  the  offer  of  Elder  John  Armstrong  to 
educate  young  men  of  the  ministry,  and  that  the  Board 
of  the  Convention  be  authorized  to  send  such  young  men 
as  they  approve  to  him  (he  having  been  a  teacher  since 
his  coming  to  North  Carolina)  or  to  some  school,  and  to 
defray  their  expenses  as  far  as  the  funds  of  the  Conven- 
tion will  admit." "^ 

At  the  Convention  of  1832  a  proposition  was  made  to 
establish  a  school  of  their  own  on  the  manual  labor  plan. 
Dr.  Calvin  Jones  had  a  fine  farm  in  Wake  county  of  six 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  valued  at  $2,500.  He  was 
a  liberal  man  as  well  as  a  believer  in  education,  and 
offered  to  give  $500  on  his  farm,  provided  the  church 
would  raise  the  other  $2,000.     J.  G.  Hall,  W.  R.  Hinton, 


1.    J.  S.  Purefoy,  Wake  Forest  Student.  Vol.  VI..  p.  181. 
■2.    Ibid,  p.  182. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  182. 

4.  Memoir  of  Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard.  pp.  19-23;  J.  S.  Purefoy.  Wake  Forest  Stu- 
ent.  Vol.  VI„  p.  182. 


136  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

John  Purefoy,  A.  S.  Wynne  and  S.  J.  Jeffreys  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  obtain  the  required  money  with 
which  to  purchase  the  farm.^  At  the  Convention  of 
the  next  year,  which  met  at  Dockery's  meeting-house  in 
Richmond  county,  Stephen  A.  Graham,  Josepli  B.  Out- 
laws Alfred  Dockery,  David  Tliompson  and  Samuel  S. 
Biddle  were  made  a  committee  to  secure  a  charter  for 
Wake  Forest  Manual  Labor  Institute, ^  to  be  located  on 
Dr.  Jones'  farm,  sixteen  miles  from  Raleigh. 

The  charter  for  Wake  Forest  Institute  was  secured 
with  a  good  deal  of  difficulty.  The  legislature  of  1833- 
1834  had  a  large  number  of  members  opposed  to  the 
Baptist  doctrine  and  church.  For  a  while  it  seemed 
that  the  charter  would  not  be  granted.  However,  after 
much  discussion  it  passed  the  lower  house.  When  it 
was  brought  to  a  vote  in  the  senate  there  was  a  tie,  but 
the  speaker,  Hon.  William  D.  Moseley,  an  alumnus  of 
the  University  of  North  Carolina,  cast  his  vote  in  favor 
of  the  institution.  Though  a  charter  was  granted,  it 
was  a  meager  affair.  The  trustees  were  not  allowed  to 
hold  more  than  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  real  and  per- 
sonal estate  ;  and  this  was  subject  to  taxation.  Too,  the 
charter  was  only  of  twenty  years'  duration.^ 

Rev.  Samuel  Wait,  D.  D.,  was  the  real  founder  and 
first  president  of  the  institution.  According  to  the 
statement  made  in  the  general  catalogue,  he  was  elected 
in  1832.  Dr.  Smith,  on  page  102  of  his  History  of  Edu- 
cation in  North  Carolina,  says  that  the  election  took 
place  May  10,  1833.  The  school  was  not  opened  till 
February,  1834.^  Dr.  Wait  w^as  born  in  Washington 
county.  New  York,  December  19th,  1789.     He  graduated 

1.  J.  S.  Purgfoy,  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  183. 

2.  Ibid,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  188;  Vol,  XV.,  p.  201. 

3.  Catalogue  of  Wake  Forest  College,  1889-1890,  copy  of  the  Charter;  J.  S.  Pure, 
foy.  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  184. 

4.  General  Catalogue  of  Wake  Forest  College,  p.  3;   Memoir  of  Rev.  John   L. 
Pritchard,  p.  23;  J.  S.  Purefoy,  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  184. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  137 

at  the  Columbian  College,  Washington,  D.  C.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  a  tutor  for  some  time  in  the  same  institu- 
tion, and  that  he  came  South  to  obtain  money  for  the 
college.  The  Newbern  church  called  him  as  their  pastor 
in  1827.^  He  was  very  active  in  the  cause  of  general 
culture  and  education  in  his  adopted  State.  He  had 
much  to  in  organizing  the  State  Convention  and  the 
Board  of  Missions.  In  connection  with  Rev.  Thomas 
Meredith  he  labored  for  the  church  newspaper,  The  Bap- 
tist Interpreter,  which  was  first  published  at  Eden  ton  in 
1833  ;  this  was  transferi'ed  to  Xewbern  the  next  year  and 
had  its  name  changed  to  Biblical  Recorder ;  and  from 
there  it  came  to  Raleigh  in  1838,  where  it  has  since  re- 
mained. ^ 

His  services  to  the  infant  school,  of  which  he  was  the 
head  for  about  eleven  years,  were  arduous  and  distin- 
guished. He  had  begun  with  $169  and  twenty-five  boys. 
When  he  gave  up  the  presidency,  he  had  erected  a  large 
brick  building  at  a  cost  of  $15,000,  increased  the  patron- 
age many  fold  and  changed  the  little  institute  into  a 
college.  After  his  resignation,  he  was  president  of  the 
Oxford  Female  Seminary  from  1851  to  1857  ;  and  served 
the  churches  in  Caswell  county  as  i^astor  till  his  death, 
July  28th,  1867.^  He  was  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Wake  Forest  from  1845  to  1866.* 

Along  with  Dr.  Wait  in  the  early  struggle  was  Rev. 
John  Armstrong.  He  became  financial  agent  at  the 
same  time  that  Dr.  Wait  assumed  the  principalship  ;  and 
was  the  teacher  of  Ancient  Languages  from  1835  to  No- 
vember, 1837.^  A  new  building  was  needed  at  once, 
and  subscriptions  for  the  same  were  begun  in  February, 

1.    Smiths'  History  of  Education  in  North  Carolina,  p.  1C2. 
•1.    Dr.  Hufham,  Biblical  Recorder.  December  8. 18d7. 

3.  J.  B.  Brewer,  Wake  Forest  Student.  Vol.  XV.,  pp.  •2()1-2U;  J.  S,  Purefoy,  Wake 
Forest  Student.  Vol.  VI.,  p.  182;  Smiths*  History  of  Education,  p.  102. 

4.  General  Catalogue,  p.  9. 

5.  Ibid,  p.  18. 


138  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

1835.  C.  W.  Skinner  and  D.  S.  Williams  gave  $500 
each;  and  Mr.  Armstrong  obtained  about  $17,000  in 
subscriptions.  The  trustees  gave  out  the  contract  for  a 
building  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  Before  the  building  was 
completed  great  financial  depression  spread  over  the 
country.  By  November,  1836,  they  were  in  debt  $2,- 
010.55".  In  1838  Dr.  Wait  took  the  field  as  agent,  while 
Rev.  J.  B.  White  became  president p-o  tern.  On  January 
2nd,  1841,  they  secured  $10,000  as  a  loan  from  the 
literary  fund  of  the  State.  This  put  them  in  better  cir- 
cumstances, though  the  debt  on  the  old  building  was  not 
entirely  paid  until  1849.  Rev.  J.  S.  Purefoy  was  the 
great  force  in  this  financial  crisis. ^ 

The  manual  labor  idea  was  a  failure,  and  was  aban- 
doned in  1838.  The  labor  of  the  student  was  worth  but 
three  cents  an  hour  and  amounted  to  very  little.  The 
idea  was  better  than  the  remuneration  to  the  student. 
The  first  circular  of  expenses  was  :  board  $5  per  month  ; 
tuition  in  Latin  and  Greek  $2  ;  English  branches  $1.50  ; 
washing  75  cents — total  for  ten  months  $92.50.^  By  an 
act  of  the  legislature  the  charter  was  amended  and  the 
name  changed  to  Wake  Forest  College,  December  28th, 
1838.  This  amendment  gave  them  far  greater  privileges. 
The  time  was  extended  fifty  years  and  the  trustees  could 
hold  $250,000  free  from  taxes.  When  the  college  came 
into  existence,  the  courses  and  terms  were  raised. -"^ 
According  to  their  circulars  of  1839  the  expenses  per 
year  were  :  tuition  $45  ;  room  rent  $2  ;  bed  and  bedding 
$4  ;  wood  $2  ;  servants'  hire  $2  ;  deposit  for  repairs  $2. 
Board  and  washing  could  be  had  for  $8  per  month. ^ 

Dr.  Wait  resigned   November  26th,   1844;    and  Rev. 


1.  General  Catalogue,  p.  4;  J.  B.  Brewer,  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  XV.,  pp. 
201-210. 

2.  J,  S.  Purefoy,  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  VI.,  pp.  184-185. 
8.    Catalogue,  1889-1890,  copy  of  Amendment. 

4.    Given  also  l)y  Smith,  History  of  Education,  p.  105. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  139 

William  Hooper,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected  his  successor 
October  17th,  1845.  He  assumed  control  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  next  year.^  He  was  a  conspicuous  character 
in  the  teaching  profession,  having  served  with  great 
ability  for  sixty-six  years  ;  was  a  grandson  of  William 
Hooper,  the  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ','^ 
born  near  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  1782  ;  took  from 
the  University  of  North  Carolina  A.  B.  in  1809,  A.  M.  in 
1812  and  D.  D.  in  1857;  was  professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages in  the  same  1817-22  and  1828-37,  of  Rhetoric 
and  Logic  1825-28  ;  was  a  professor  in  the  South  Caro- 
lina College  for  a  time  before  becoming  president  of 
Wake  Forest.  3  Dr.  Hooper  held  the  presidency  but  two 
years.  However,  he  did  much  in  this  short  time.  He 
gave  assistance  in  rescuing  the  institution  from  the 
great  debt  that  had  been  incurred,  though  it  was  about 
one  year  after  his  resignation  that  this  was  paid  in  full, 
His  work  in  the  Convention  for  the  organization,  as  a 
trustee  and  as  a  president,  was  alike  distinguished. 

Rev.  John  B.  White,  D.  D.,  was  elected  the  third 
president  in  1849,  and  held  the  position  until  June, 
1852,  when  Prof.  W.  H.  Owen  was  president  p?'o  tern  for 
two  years. ^  It  was  during  the  first  year  of  Dr.  White's 
administration  that  the  indebtedness  was  paid  and  a 
small  endowment  fund  begun. ^ 

Washington  Manly  Wingate,  D.  D.,  became  president 
in  June,  1854,  and  was  the  head  and  guide  until  his 
death,  February  27th,  1879.^  He  was  the  greatest  presid- 
ing officer  this  institution  has  ever  had.  He  brought  it 
from  a  small  college  with  little  equipment  and  practically 
no  endowment  to  the  front  rank  of  Southern  colleges. 

1.  General  Catalogue  of  Wake  Forest  College,  pp.  3  and  18. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  .53. 

3.  Ibid,  pp.  79-80  and  149. 

4.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  3-4. 

5.  J.  B.  Brewer,  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  XV.,  pp.  201-210. 

6.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  4  and  18. 


140  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

His  life  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  the  life  and  light 
of  the  institution.  He  was  born  in  Darlington,  South 
Carolina,  March  22nd,  1828  ;  graduated  with  A.  B.  from 
Wake  Forest  in  1849 ;  studied  theolog}^  at  Furman 
University,  South  Carolina,  for  two  years  ;  from  1852  to 
1854  agent  for  his  alma  mater. ^ 

When  he  took  hold,  the  institution  needed  a  strong 
mind  to  guide  it  and  an  energetic  one  to  extend  its 
sphere.  From  1854  to  1861  it  rose  rapidly  and  firmly. 
When  the  devastation  of  war  had  swept  the  fruits  from 
our  soil,  it  required  even  greater  force  to  bring  back  re- 
sources and  life.  Duties  were  suspended  in  May,  1862, 
and  it  was  not  reopened  until  1866.  At  the  State  Con- 
vention of  1856,  which  met  at  Raleigh,  $25,000  were 
pledged  for  the  endowment  fund.  Dr.  Wingate  had  in- 
creased this  amount  to  $46,000  by  1861.  When  the  war 
closed  the  whole  fund  was  worth  only  $11,700.  However, 
new  and  greater  efforts  were  made  on  this  line,  and  from 
1866  to  1883  about  $40,000  more  were  secured.  ^  He  not 
only  worked  to  equip  the  college  with  apparatus  and 
strong  teachers,  but  toiled  to  make  true  men  out  of  his 
students.  He  labored,  as  few  others  have,  for  a  deep 
and  general  culture.  Through  his  college  duties  he 
still  kept  up  the  ministry,  being  at  different  times  pastor 
of  the  churches  in  Oxforc",  Franklinton,  Selma  and  else- 
where. He  was  a  power  in  conventions,  assemblies  and 
in  all  kinds  of  educational  or  religious  work.^ 

Rev.  J.  D.  Hufham,  D.  D.,  who  is  now  the  greatest 
North  Carolina  Baptist,  says  of  him:  ''We  have  lost 
the  greatest  man  we  had  among  us.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  was  the  central  figure,  the  greatest  power  of 
North  Carolina  Baptists.  He  had  a  vigorous,  compre- 
hensive and  subtle  intellect.     In  law,  or  statesmanship, 

1.  Manuscript  on  Wingate;  General  Catalogue,  p.  24. 

2.  General  Catalogue,  p.  4. 

3.  Manuscript  on  Wingate. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  141 

or  any  of  the  professions  which  require  the  knowledge 
and  management  of  men,  he  would  have  risen  to  emi- 
nence. He  was  a  great  moral  philosopher,  a  great 
preacher,  the  best  I  have  ever  heard,  and  a  wise  and 
successful  pastor.  He  ruled  the  boys  through  their  re- 
spect for  him  and  their  faith  in  him.  He  was  a  brave 
man,  a  true  man  ;  still  he  was  as  tender  and  gentle  as  a 


woman 


"  1 


In  1879  Rev.  Thomas  Henderson  Pritchard,  D.  D.,  be- 
came president.  He  held  the  position  until  June,  1882.2 
He  had  had  such  a  useful  career  and  was  so  well  and 
favorably  known,  that  he  perhaps  of  all  was  the  very 
man  to  advertise  the  college  to  the  whole  church.  He 
was  born  in  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  February  8th, 
1832  ;  graduated  with  A.  B.  from  Wake  Forest  in  1854  ; 
ordained  minister  in  1855  ;  three  years  preacher  and 
teacher  in  Hertford  ;  two  years  a  student  under  Dr.  John 
A.  Broadus  in  Charlottesville,  Virginia;  pastor  of 
Franklin-Square,  Baltimore,  for  three  years  ;  pastor  of 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Raleigh  for  about  thirteen  years  ; 
twenty-three  years  a  trustee  of  his  alma  mater ;  for  some 
time  associate  editor  of  the^  Biblical  Recorder ;  after  re- 
signing the  presidency  of  Wake  Forest,  pastor  at  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  Wilmington  and  Charlotte,  North  Caro- 
lina ;  died  in  Charlotte,  May  23rd,  1896.^ 

Rev.  W.  B.  Royall,  D.  D.,  professor  of  Greek,  was 
chairman  of  the  faculty  from  June,  1882,  to  November, 
1884,  when  Rev.  Charles  Elisha  Taylor,  D.  D.,  assumed 
the  presidency.  He  was  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia, 
October  28th,  1842  ;  entered  Richmond  College  at  fifteen 
and  would  have  graduated  in  1862  but  for  the  war ; 
joined  the  army  April  17th,  1861 ;  at  the  University  of 
Virginia  1865-70,  where  he  graduated  ;  traveled  for  some 

1.  Manuscript  on  Wingate. 

2.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  4  and  18. 

3.  Wake  Forest  Student,  Vol.  XV.,  pp.  521-534. 


142  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

time  in  Europe  ;i  was  assistant  professor  of  Latin  and 
German  1870-71,  and  professor  of  Latin  and  German 
from  1871  to  1884,  in  Wake  Forest  ;2  in  1889  the  Univer- 
sity of  North  Carolina  gave  him  Litt.  D.^  He  still 
guides  the  institution,  and  with  great  ability  and  success. 

On  December  31st,  1883,  the  endowment  fund  reached 
$100,000.  During  this  year  Mr.  J.  A.  Bostwick,  of  New 
York,  gave  his  first  gift — $10,000.  Two  years  afterwards 
he  gave  the  Bostwick  Loan  Fund,  to  aid  indigent  young 
men  ;  and  in  1886  he  added  $50,000  to  the  endowment. 
During  July,  1890,  the  same  liberal  giver  offered  to  add 
one-half  to  whatever  amount,  up  to  $50,000,  might  be 
raised  by  March  1st,  1891.  Then  began  one  of  the 
greatest  canvasses  ever  made  in  this  State.  Hundreds 
of  poor  men,  women  and  children  gave  their  mite  ;  and 
by  the  stated  time  $26,000  had  been  secured.  By  this 
about  $40,000  were  added,  and  the  fund  amounted  to 
$194,000.4  At  the  present  time  (1897)  this  fund  exceeds 
$200,000.^  In  addition  to  a  large  increase  of  funds, 
there  have  been  erected  three  more  commodious  build- 
ings. The  Heck-Williams  Building  was  erected  in  1878 
by  Col.  J.  M.  Heck  and  Mr.  John  G.  Williams,  of  Raleigh. 
The  Win  gate  Memorial  Building  w^as  erected  in  1880  by 
the  friends  of  the  institution.  The  Lea  Laboratory,  for 
the  most  part  built  through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Sidney 
S.  Lea,  of  Caswell  county,  was  completed  in  1888.^ 

The  faculty  has  been:  Samuel  Wait,  Philos.,  Lit., 
1834-45;  Thomas  Meredith,  Math.,  Nat.  Philos.,  1834- 
37  ;  John  Armstrong,  Anc.  Langs.,  1835-37  ;  Charles  R. 
Merriam,  tutor  of  Husbandry,  1834;  Graves  (1835)  and 
Wilcox    (1836),  tutors;    John    B.    White,   Math.,   Nat. 

1.  Dr.  Hulham,  Biblical  Recorder,  December  8, 1897 ;  letter  from  President  Taj-lor. 

2.  General  Catalogue,  p.  20. 

3.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  242. 

4.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  4-5. 

5.  Catalogue,  1896-1897. 

6.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  5-6. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  143 

Philos.,  1837-49  ;  D.  F.  Richardson,  Anc.  Langs.,  1837- 
39;  Stephen  Moore,  Adjunct  of  Langs.,  1838-39; 
George  W.  Thompson,  tutor,  1838;  D.  F.  Richardson, 
Hebrew,  Rhet.,  1839-43  ;  Stephen  Moore,  Greek,  Lat., 
1839-43;  E.  W.  West,  tutor,  1841-42  ;  William  Hays 
Owen,  Anc.  Langs.,  1843-58;  William  Tell  Brooks, 
tutor,  1843-46  ;  William  Hooper,  Philos.,  Lit.,  1845-49  ; 
Samuel  S.  Satchwell,  tutor,  1846-47;  W.  T.  Brooks, 
Asst.  Anc.  Langs.,  1846-58  ;  Archibald  McDowell,  tutor, 
1847;  John  B.  White,  Philos.,  Lit.,  1849;  William  T. 
Walters,  tutor,  1849-52;  Willie  Person  Mangum,  Jr., 
tutor,  1849-50  ;  Benjamin  Wesley  Justice,  tutor,  1850- 
52  ;  John  Mitchell,  tutor,  1852  ;  W.  T.  Walters,  Math., 
1852-68;  James  Henry  Foote,  tutor,  1853;  Thomas  H. 
Pritchard,  tutor,  1853;  W.  M.  Wingate,  Philos.,  Rhet., 
1854-79  ;  William  Cummings,  Chem.,  Min.,  Geol.,  1854  ; 
William  Gaston  Simmons,  Chem.,  Nat.  Hist.,  1855-88; 
Benson  Field  Cole,  tutor,  1856;  Robert  H.  Marsh, 
tutor  Anc.  Langs,,  1856;  Samuel  P.  Smith,  tutor, 
1859;  J.  H.  Foote,  Anc.  Langs.,  1859-66;  William 
Royall,  Lang.,  1859-70;  William  Baily  Roy  all,  tutor, 
1866-68;  Luther  Rice  Mills,  Adjunct  Math.,  1867-71 ; 
W.  B.  Royall,  Asst.  Langs.,  1868-71;  John  C.  Scar- 
borough, tutor,  1869-71;  Charles  Meredith  Seawell, 
tutor,  1870  ;  Charles  Elisha  Taylor,  Asst.  Lat.,  German, 
1870-71;  L.  R.  Mills,  Math.,  1871- ;  W.  B.  Royall, 
Greek ,  French ,  1871- ;  C .  E.  Taylor,  Lat. ,  German  ,1871- 
84  ;  L.  W.  Bagley,  tutor,  1877  ;  W.  L.  Poteat,  tutor,  1878- 
80  ;  Neill  Dockery  Johnson,  tutor,  1878  ;  T.  H.  Pritchard, 
Philos.,  Lit.,  1879-82;  Charles  Wesley  Scarborough,  tutor, 
1879-82;  William  Royall,  Modern  Lang.,  1880;  W.  L. 
Poteat,  Asst.  Nat.  Hist.,  1880-83;  Charles  Henry  Mar- 
tin, tutor,  1882  ;  Eli  E.  Hilliard,  tutor,  1882-83  ;  Exum 
Green  Beck  with,  tutor,  1883  ;  William  Furne}^  Marshall, 
tutor,    1883;    W.  L.    Poteat,    Nat.  Hist.,    1883-88;    C. 


144  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

E.  Taylor,  Philos.,  Hist.,  1884-;  Edwin  McNeill  Poteat, 
Asst.  Lat.,  1885;  James  Reynolds  Duggan,  Chem., 
1886-88;  George  W.  Manly,  Lat.,  1886-90;  Walter  H. 
Michael,  Asst.  Lat.,  Math.,  1886-88;  Charles  E.  Reese, 
Chem.,  1888;  W.  H.  Michael,  App.  Math.,  Phys.,  1888- 
90;  E.  G.  Beckwith,  Asst.  Math.,  1888;  John  Bethune 
Carlyle,  Asst.  Lat.,  1888-91;  Aaron  E.  Purinton,  Chem., 
1888-89;  Benjamin  Franklin  Sledd,  Mod.  Lang.,  1888- 
94;  Charles  Edward  Brewer,  Chem.,  1886-;  Thomas 
Stafford  Sprinkle,  Phys.  Cult.,  1889-91;  George  Wash- 
ington Greene,  Lat.,  1890-91;  John  F.  Lanneau,  Phys., 
App.  Math.,  1890-;  J.  B.  Carlyle,  Lat.,  1891-;  Jas. 
Constantine  Maske,  Asst.  Langs.,  1891-94;  Enoch  Wal- 
ter Sikes,  Phys.  Cult.,  1891-94; ^  William  J.  Ferrell, 
Asst.  Math.,  1892-;  Needham  Y.  Gulley,  Law,  1893-95, 
Law  and  Polit.  Sci.-,  1895-;  Hendren  Gorrell,  Mod. 
Lang.,  1894-;  Robert  W.  Haywood,  Asst.  Greek,  Lat., 
1894-96;  Walters  Durham,  Phys.  Cult.,  1894-95;  George 
W.  Paschal,  Asst.  Greek,  Lat.,  1896-;  Willis  R.  Cullom, 
Bible,  1896-.2 

The  present  faculty,  consisting  of  twelve  professors, 
two  assistant  professors  and  three  tutors,  is  very  strong. 
With  the  exception  of  the  University,  there  is  not  a  more 
able  or  consecrated  set  of  intellectual  workers  in  the 
State.  There  are  among  them  students  and  graduates 
of  the  University  of  Virginia,  Leipsic  (Germany) ,  Johns 
Hopkins,  Washington  and  Lee,  and  Chicago  University.^ 
At  the  last  State  Convention,  held  in  Oxford,  E.  W.  Sikes, 
M.  A.,  Ph.  D.  (Johns  Hopkins  University) ,  w^as  elected 
to  the  Chair  of  History.  Before  this,  History  had  been 
under  the  charge  of  the  president  or  a  professor  of  some 
other  department.  From  this  new  department  very 
much  may  be  expected.     The  Baptists  have  already  done 

1.  General  Catalogue,  pp.  18-20. 

2.  Catalogues,  1893-1896. 

3.  News  and  Observer,  Raleigh,  August  18, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  145 

a  great  deal  for  their  history.  Rev.  J.  D.  Hufliam,  D. 
D.,  is  now  doing  some  fine  work;  and  Dr.  Sikes  will  no 
doubt  give  a  greater  impetus  to  the  historical  spirit, 
which  is  just  now  beginning  to  move,  correct  and  en- 
lighten our  State.  Tlie  publications  of  the  faculty  have 
not  been  very  many,  though  there  is  at  present  quite  a 
tendency  toward  authorship.  Drs.  Hooper,  Wingate, 
Walters  and  Brooks  published  some  pamphlets,  mainly 
of  sermons.  Dr.  William  Royall  published  a  book  on 
Latin  Syntax,  also  one  on  Ethics.  During  the  summer 
of  1896  Dr.  Gorrell  and  Prof.  Sledd  brought  out  a  new 
edition  of  The  Princess  of  Cleves.  Prof.  Sledd  published 
a  book  of  poems.  From  Cliff- and  Scaur,  in  December, 
1897.  President  Taylor  has  written  a  Life  of  Matthew 
Tyson  Yates,  which  is  to  be  published  during  the  year 
1898.1 

The  course  of  studies  is  fairly  high  for  Southern  insti- 
tutions. For  entrance  into  college  classes  two  "years  in 
Latin,  one  in  Greek,  a  fair  knowledge  of  English,  Arith- 
metic, Algebra  to  equations  of  the  second  degree,  Ele- 
mentary Botany,  Physiology,  Physical  Geography  and 
Zoology,  are  required.  The  following  collegiate  schools 
are  given  :  Latin  Language  and  Literature,  three  years 
and  seminary  work;  Greek  Language  and  Literature,  three 
years  and  seminary;  English  Language  and  Literature — 
Rhetoric,  History  of  Literature,  Old  and  Middle  English, 
History  of  Language;  Modern  Languages — French  and 
German  Languages  and  Literature,  two  years  and  ad- 
vanced work  in  each;  Pure  Mathematics — Algebra,  Geom- 
etry, Trigonometry,  Analytical  Geometry,  Differential 
and  Integral  Calculus;  Physics,  Applied  Mathematics, 
Astronomy;  Chemistry — General,  Inorganic,  Organic, 
Applied  Chemistry,  Mineralogy;  Biology — General  Biol- 
ogy,   Botany,    Zoology,    Human    Physiology,    Geology; 

1.    Letter  from  President  Taylor. 


146  '-THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Moral  Philosophy — Psychology,  Ethics,  Logic,  Christian 
Evidences,  History  of  Philosophy;  History  and  Political 
Science — History,  Political  Economy,  Constitutional 
Government;  Law — Common,  Statute,  International, 
Constitutional;  Bible,  two  years.  B.  A.,  M.  A.  and  B. 
L.  degrees  are  conferred.  ^ 

The  two  literary  societies,  Euzelian  and  Philomathe- 
sian,  were  founded  in  1837  and  have  grown  with  the  in- 
stitution. Their  influence  has  been  deeply  felt  in  all 
forms  of  the  college  life.  In  1890  the  Scientific  Society 
was  organized,  and  in  1895  the  Historical  Society.  These 
have  already  shown  their  usefulness  in  promulgating  a 
scientific  and  historical  spirit,  that  some  day  will  bless 
the  State. ^  Along  with  the  institution  and  the  different 
societies  has  grown  the  library,  until  it  now  has  11,500 
volumes. 3  One  of  the  institution's  most  effective  agen- 
cies for  intellectual,  literary  and  college  life,  has  been 
the  Student.  This  began  its  career  in  January,  1882, 
and  has  now  grown  to  be  among  the  leading  school 
papers.^ 

Upon  the  whole  Wake  Forest  College  has  had  a  very 
honorable  record.  Since  its  founding  about  four  thou- 
sand different  students  have  been  within  its  walls.  Al- 
most five  hundred  of  these  have  become  ministers  of  the 
gospel;  and  many  others  have  won  eminence  in  law, 
politics,  medicine,  merchandising,  manufacturing  and 
teaching.  Each  year  adds  to  its  strength  in  facilities 
and  patronage.  During  1892-1893  the  enrollment  was 
191.  Since  that  it  has  gradually  increased  to  197,  221, 
260  and  to  263  for  the  year  1896-1897. ^     The  present 

1.  Catalogue,  189iM897,  pp.  20-46. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  553-55. 

3.  Letter  from  President  Taylor. 

4.  Catalogue,  1896-1897,  p.  56. 

5.  General  Catalogue ;  Catalogues  since  1892. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  147 

policy  is  vigorous  and  aggressive.  This  institution, 
with  its  church,  has  made  a  very  active  fight  against 
State  aid  to  higher  education.  That  it  has  aided  its  wel- 
fare thereby  cannot  be  proven  ;  the  future  only  can  tell. 

DAVIDSON    COLLEGE. 

The  Presbyterian  settlements  in  North  Carolina  have 
already  been  spoken  of  somewhat  at  length  ;  so  also  have 
their  early  schools.  It  has  been  shown  that  they  were 
a  strong  element  in  the  political,  religious  and  educa- 
tional life  of  this  State  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  While  other  churches,  especially 
the  Baptist  and  Methodist,  have  grown  rapidly  during 
the  nineteenth  century,  the  Presbyterian  has  gone  side 
by  side  of  these.  It  still  has  great  influence  and  power 
and  now,  as  a  century  ago,  firmly  believes  in  its  institu- 
tions of  learning.  The  strongest  of  these  for  more  than 
fifty  years  has  been  Davidson  College.  It  has  been  to 
them  what  Wake  Forest  has  been  to  the  Baptists — a 
source  of  life  as  well  as  of  light. 

This  institution  was  located  in  the  northern  part  of 
Mecklenburg  count}^  midway  between  Charlotte  and 
Statesville,  twenty-two  miles  from  each,^  in  the  year 
1837.  Not  far  from  this  had  been  the  classical  schools  : 
Crowfield,  Sugar  Creek,  Queens'  Museum,  Zion-Par- 
nassus,  Providence,  Rocky  River,  Poplar  Tent,  Centre, 
Bethany  and  others.  The  idea  of  having  a  Presbyterian 
college  in  this  community  was  in  vogue  as  early  as  1820. 
It  was  at  a  convention  held  in  Lincolnton  in  September 
of  this  year  that  the  first  steps  were  taken.  In  this 
gathering  were  many  from  a  large  area  of  both  the  Caro- 
linas.  They  resolved  to  establish  a  school  by  the  name 
of  Western  College,  and  appointed   a  board  of  trustees. 


1.    Catalogue,  18P<}-1M»7,  p.  r2. 


148  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

They  felt  the  great  need  of  having  a  high  grade  institu- 
tion in  their  own  midst ;  the  University  was  rather  far 
away  for  those  times  of  few  conveniences  for  traveling. 
A  charter  w^as  granted,  and  the  board  of  trustees  made 
attempts  to  secure  money  with  which  to  erect  a  building. 
Success  did  not  come  to  them,  why  the  writer  does  not 
know.     They  gave  up  the  whole  affair  in  1824.^ 

The  idea  among  many  Presbyterians  was  not  by  any 
means  dead  ;  it  was  taking  a  new  hold.  At  the  Presby- 
tery of  Concord,  which  met  at  Prospect  Church  in  Rowan 
county  during  March,  1835,  Rev.  Robert  Hall  Morrison 
is  said  to  have  introduced  the  following  resolution : 
''Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery,  deeply  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  securing  the  means  of  education  to 
young  men,  within  our  bounds,  of  hopeful  piety  and 
talents,  preparatory  to  the  gospel  ministry,  undertake 
(in  humble  reliance  upon  the  blessing  of  God)  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Manual  Labor  School;  and  that  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery the  best  measures  for  its  accomplishment  and  the 
most  favorable  places  for  its  location.  "^  Revs.  Robert  H . 
Morrison,  John  Robinson,  Stephen  Frontis  and  Samuel 
Williamson,  with  Robert  Burton,  William  Lee  Davidson, 
John  Phifer  and  Joseph  Young,  were  made  the  com- 
mittee.^ 

During  August  of  the  same  year  it  w^as  reported  that 
a  farm  of  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres  had  been 
contracted  for.  This  belonged  to  William  Lee  Davidson  ; 
and  they  were  to  pay  him  $1,521  by  the  first  of  the  next 
year.  Mr.  Morrison  had  by  this  time  obtained  in  sub- 
scriptions $18,000,  and  Rev.  P.  J.  Sparrow  $12,392, 
making  in  all  more  than  thirty  thousand  dollars.    These 


1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  3(>-31. 

2.  Minutes  of  Concord  Presbytery,  Vol.  III.,  p.  107,  copied  edition,  given  in  Semi- 
Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  33-34. 

3.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  8. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  149 

reports  were  made  on  the  25th  of  August,  1836  ;  and  on 
the  next  day  it  was  decided  to  name  the  school  David- 
son College,  after  Gen.  William  Davidson,  who  fell  like 
a  hero  fighting  for  liberty  at  Cowan's  Ford.^  An  invi- 
tation was  at  once  sent  to  the  Bethel  Presbytery,  of  South 
Carolina,  to  join  in  this  new  enterprise;  The  invitation 
was  accepted  October  10th,  1835.  Soon  after  this  the 
Morganton  Presbytery,  which  included  the  territory  west 
of  the  Catawba  river,  also  came  in.*  They  selected  a 
site  two  miles  from  Old  Centre  Meeting-house  and  one 
and  a  half  from  the  Iredell  line.  On  this  they  began  to 
erect  the  buildings  in  the  summer  of  1836. ^  The  Stew- 
ards' Hall,  the  President's  House,  a  home  for  the  teacher 
of  languages,  now  known  as  ''Tammany,"  and  four 
blocks  of  brick  dormitories,  were  completed  within  a 
short  while.-* 

On  March  1st,  1837,  the  college  opened.  Rev.  Robert 
Hall  Morrison,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Sugar  Creek,  president 
and  professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy  ;  Rev. 
Patrick  Jones  Sparrow,  D.  D.,  of  Salisbury,  professor  of 
Ancient  Languages  ;  Mortimer  D.  Johnston,  A.  M.,  tutor 
of  Mathematics — these  were  the  faculty  for  the  first  year.^ 
Dr.  Morrison  was  the  strongest  personality  in  the  educa- 
tional movement  of  that  time,  and  was  elected  the  first 
president  of  the  infant  college.  He  was  chosen  by  the 
three  Presbyteries  of  Concord,  Bethel  and  Morganton. 
He  was  born  in  Cabarrus  county,  North  Carolina,  Sep- 
tember 8th,  1798  ;  graduated  with  A.  B.  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  State  in  1818  ;  ordained  minister  April  21st, 
1821 ;  served  the  churches   at  Providence,  Fayetteville 


1.  Semi-Centenaiy  Addresses,  p.  34;  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  521;  Davidson  Monthly, 
Vol.  VII.,  p.  195. 

2.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  35;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  195. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  35 

4.  Ibid.  p.  37. 

5.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  38;  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  321 ;  Davidson  Monthly, 
Vol.  VII.,  p.  186, 


150  thp:  church  and  private 

and  Sugar  Creek  ;  received  D.  D.  from  the  University  of 
North  Carolina  1838,  and  A.  M.  from  the  College  of  New 
Jersey  ;  after  resigning  the  presidency  of  Davidson  was 
pastor  of  Unity  and  Macpelah  churches ;  died  Mav 
13th,  1889.1 

Dr.  Morrison  resigned  early  in  1840.  He  had  worked 
for  the  institution  with  such  enthusiasm  and  force  that 
his  health  became  very  poor,  hence  his  resignation. 
During  his  short  term  of  office  much  was  done — the 
school  had  been  oi'ganized  and  started  on  its  way. 
During  the  first  session  there  were  about  sixty  students  ; 
and  there  were  not  good  accommodations  for  more  than 
forty-eight.  More  rooms  were  soon  added,  and  by  the 
end  of  his  administration  there  were  about  one  hundred 
pupils  each  year.  The  manual  labor  idea,  from  which 
they  at  first  expected  many  good  results,  soon  proved  a 
failure,  and  was  abandoned  in  1841.  There  was  no  grad- 
uating class  until  1840.  However,  there  were  public 
examinations  and  orations  at  the  close  of  each  spring 
term.  The  first  attempt  to  secure  a  chemical  apparatus 
and  a  library  was  made  during  the  second  year,  but  with 
little  success.  2 

A  charter  was  granted  and  ratified  December  28th, 
1838.  However,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in 
securing  this,  as  a  large  number  of  the  legislature  at  that 
time  opposed  the  idea  of  giving  a  grant  to  an  institution 
under  the  church.  By  this  charter  the  trustees  were  to 
be  chosen  by  the  Presbyteries  of  Concord,  Bethel  and 
Morganton,  and  any  other  Presbyteries  of  the  State  that 
might  afterwards  wish  to  join  these  in  the  educational 
enterprise.  The  original  trustees  were :  John  Robin- 
son, Ephraim  Davidson,  Thomas  L.  Cowan,  Robert  H. 
Burton,  Robert  H.  Morrison,  John  Williamson,  Joseph 

1.  Seini-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  38-39;  Seini-Centennial  Ctitalogue.p.  18;  Gene- 
ral Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  182, 

2.  Seini-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  91-107. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  151 

W.  Ross,  William  L.  Davidson,  Charles  W.  Harris,  Wal- 
ter S.  Pliarr,  Cyrus  L.  Hunter,  JohnD.  Graham,  Robert 
Potts,  James  M.  H.  Adams,  David  A.  Caldwell,  William 
B.  Wood,  Moses  W.  Alexander,  D.  C.  Mebane,  James  W. 
Osborne,  Henry  N.  Pharr,  John  M.  Wilson,  P.  J.  Spar- 
row, James  G.  Torrence,  John  L.  Daniel,  Pierpont  E. 
Bishop,  George  W.  Dunlap  and  John  Springs.^  By 
article  first  of  the  constitution,  none  were  eligible  to  a 
trusteeship  but  "members  in  full  communion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church."^ 

When  it  came  to  the  qualifications  of  teachers,  the 
constitution  was  still  more  rigid.  According  to  the 
third  section  of  the  second  article,  they  were  compelled 
to  take  the  following  vows  :  "I  do  sincerely  believe  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  to  be  the 
word  of  God,  the  only  infallable  rule  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice. I  do  sincerely  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
as  faithfully  exhibiting  the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Holy 

Scriptures 

I  do  solemnly  engage  not  to  teach  anything  that  is  op- 
posed to  any  doctrine  contained  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  nor  to  oppose  any  of  the  fundamental  principles 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  Government,  while  I  con- 
tinue a  teacher  or  professor  of  this  Institution.- '^ 

The  text-books  used  during  Dr.  Morrison's  administra- 
tion were  :  Day's  Algebra,  Olmstead's  Natural  Philoso- 
phy and  Astronomy,  Turner's  Chemistry,  Gibson's  Sur- 
veying, Hedge's  Logic,  Locke  on  the  Human  Understand- 
ing, Blair's  Rhetoric,  Paley's  Evidences  of  Christianity, 
Adam's  Latin  Grammar,  Caesar's  Commentaries,  Sal- 
lust,  Vergil,  Cicero,  Horace,  Livy,  Valphy's  Greek 
Grammar,   Greek  Testament,   Graeca  Minora  and  Ma- 


1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  48-49 ;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  pp.  2-3. 

2.  Foote's  Sketches,  p.  -522. 

3.  Ibid.  p.  522. 


152  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

jora.^  And  in  connection  with  this  course  of  studies 
Rev.  Patrick  Jones  Sparrow  deserves  more  than  a  mere 
mention.  He  it  was  who  did  a  great  part  of  the  teach- 
ing during  the  first  tliree  years.  He  was  born  in  Lin- 
coln county,  North  Carolina,  in  1802  ;  served  his  church 
in  many  ways  before  becoming  professor  of  languages  in 
Davidson  ;  president  of  Hampden-Sidney  College,  Vir- 
ginia, for  some  time  after  1842  ;  died  in  Alabama,  No- 
vember 10th,  1867.2 

Rev.  Samuel  Williamson,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  became  presi- 
dent in  July,  1841.  He  gave  the  longest  service  of  any 
presiding  officer — thirteen  years  ;  and  his  administra- 
tion was  distinguished,  especially  so  when  the  difficulties 
under  which  he  labored  are  considered.  The  manual 
labor  idea  had  failed  and  the  institution  was  in  poor 
financial  circumstances  ;  and  it  was  by  his  great  energy 
and  tact  that  it  w^as  kept  alive.  During  a  great  part 
of  his  presidency,  he  was  pastor  of  the  College  Church, 
attended  to  his  official  duties  and  at  the  same  time 
taught  Rhetoric,  Logic,  Natural  Philosophy,  Mineral- 
ology.  Geology,  Chemistry,  Evidences  of  Christianity, 
Moral  Philosophy,  Metaphysics,  Political  Economy  and 
International  Law.  At  no  time  during  his  administra- 
tion did  the  income  support  more  than  two  regular  pro- 
fessors, and  that  too  in  a  meager  w^ay.  Many  plans  were 
attempted  to  secure  more  money,  among  wdiich  was  the 
sale  of  twenty-year  scholarships.  About  four  hundred 
of  these  were  to  be  sold  to  raise  $40,000,  with  which  to 
endow  two  professorships.  This  plan,  wdiile  it  brought 
in  some  money  at  the  time,  was  ruinous  in  the  end. 
They  proposed  to  sell  tuition  twenty  years  in  advance  at 
five  dollars  per  year.  The  Civil  War  destroyed  its  pro- 
ceeds, while  the  scholarships  remained  good.^ 

1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  98. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  89-40;  Semi  Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  14. 

3.  Ibid,  pp.  50-52, 109-119 ;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  196. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  153 

Dr.  Williamson  was  born  in  York  county,  South  Caro- 
lina, June  12th,  1795  ;  graduated  at  South  Carolina  Col- 
lege in  1818  ;  pastor  of  Providence  Church  from  1822  to 
1840,  when  he  became  professor  of  Mathematics  in 
Davidson  ;  given  D.  D.  by  Washington  College  in  1847  ; 
pastor  of  Hopewell  and  Steel  Creek  1855-1857  ;  preacher 
in  Arkansas  1857-1882,  where  he  died  March  12th,  1882.  ^ 
His  influence  upon  the  inner  life  of  his  students  was 
great;  he  made  a  deep  impression  upon  them,  one  that 
remained  a  life-time.  There  were  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three  A.  B.  graduates  under  him.  Many  of  these 
became  distinguished  in  after  life.  Among  this  number 
were  W.  P.  Bynum,  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
North  Carolina,  and  J.  M.  Baker,  a  judge  of  his  adopted 
State,  Florida,  and  a  member  of  the  Confederate  States 
Sen  ate.  2 

Just  as  Dr.  Williamson  was  giving  up  the  presidency  a 
great  gift  came  to  the  institution.  By  the  will  of  Max- 
well Chambers,  dated  November,  1854,  a  legacy  of  one- 
fourth  of  a  million  dollars  was  left  to  the  college.  How- 
ever, as  their  original  charter  did  not  allow  the  trustees 
to  hold  but  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  about  $45,000 
of  this  went  back  to  his  next  kin,  Hon.  David  F.  Cald- 
well. The  legislature  at  once  gave  the  trustees  the  power 
to  hold  a  half  a  million,  but  this  action  was  too  late  to 
save  all  of  the  legacy.  Mr.  Chambers  deserves  a  high 
place  in  the  history  of  this  institution.  It  was  by  means 
of  his  gift  that  the  college  was  placed  in  good  financial 
circumstances,  a  chapel  and  dormitories  erected,  and 
laboratories  and  library  equipped.  He  had  been  very 
successful  in  business  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
and  in  Salisbury  of  this  State .     He  was  a  great  giver  to 


1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  50-52, 109-119;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  VII.,  p. 
196;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  14. 

2.  Semi-Centenaxy  Addresses,  p.  115. 


154  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  needy  of  his  fellow-men,  and  in  many  ways  assisted 
in  the  betterment  of  his  conntry.^ 

On  January  24th,  1855,  Rev.  Drnry  Lacy,  D.  D.,  was 
elected  the  third  president.  He  began  his  duties  in 
July,  1855,  and  served  till  July,  1860.  He  was  born  in 
Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia,  August  5th,  1802;^ 
graduated  at  Hampden-Sidney  College  in  1822,  and  at 
the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1832  ;  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Newbern  and  Raleigh  from  1833 
to  his  election  as  president  of  Davidson  ;  teacher  in 
Raleigh  1865-1880;  given  A.  M.  in  1839  and  D.  D.  in 
1852,  by  the  University  of  North  Carolina  ;  died  in  Jones- 
boro,  North  Carolina,  August  1st,  1884.'^  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  scholarship  and  great  earnestness,  but  soon  found 
the  rigid  and  tiring  work  of  administering  the  affairs  of 
the  college  burdensome.  Two  hundred  and  seventy-one 
pupils  were  enrolled  and  fifty-five  graduated  during  his 
term  of  office.  He  was  professor  of  Metaphysics  as  well 
as  president ;  and  managed  the  affairs  of  erecting  the 
chapel  building.^ 

xVssociated  with  him  were  Rev.  E.  F.  Rockwell,  D.  D., 
Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  Col.  J.  A.  Leland,  C.  D.  Fishburne, 
and  W.  C.  Kerr.  With  these  teachers  began  that  period 
of  rigid  drilling,  that  has  since  been  characteristic  of  the 
institution.  Rockwell  in  Latin,  Fishburne  in  Greek, 
Hill  and  Leland  in  Mathematics  and  Science,  worked 
the  boys  so  hard  that  there  came  about  an  unpleasant 
disturbance  in  1854-1855,  in  consequence  of  which  some 
of  the  students  left.  These  were  men  wiio  became  emi- 
nent in  different  lines  ;  and  while  they  taught  in  David- 
son they  accepted  no  standard  but  that  of  true  and  high 
scholarship.^ 


1.    Semi-Centenary  Addres'^es,  pp.  .53-54 ;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  m). 
•2.    Ibid,  p.  55;  Davidson  Montlily.  Vol.  VII.,  p.  197. 

3.  Ibid,  p.  56;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  16;  General  Catal<igue  of  Tniver- 
sity  of  North  Carolina,  p.  2S^. 

4.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  127  and  129. 
.5.    Ibid,  pp.  122  and  124. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  155 

Gen.  Hill,  though  by  far  better  known  as  a  soldier, 
still  had  a  very  honorable  and  extensive  career  as  a 
school-man.  He  was  born  in  York  county,  South  Caro- 
lina, July  21st,  1821;  graduated  at  West  Point  1842; 
professor  of  Mathematics  in  Washington  College,  Vir- 
ginia, 1847-1853;  superintendent  of  the  North  Carolina 
Military  Academy,  Charlotte,  1859-1860;  became  Lieu- 
tenant General  of  the  Confederate  States  Army  July 
10th,  1863;  editor  of  the  Land  We  Love  1866-1869; 
author  of  Elements  of  Algebra  ;  president  of  the  University 
of  Arkansas  1877-1884,  and  of  Middle  Georgia  Military 
and  Agricultural  College  1885-1889;  died  at  Charlotte, 
North  Carolina,  1889. ^  Prof.  Kerr  also  deserves  more 
than  a  mention.  He  was  born  in  Guilford  county,  North 
Carolina,  in  1827  ;  took  from  the  University  of  the  State 
A.  B.  1850,  A.  M.  1852  and  Ph.  D.  1879;  student  at 
Harvard  1853-1855  ;  computer  in  the  office  of  the  Nau- 
tical Almanac  1852-1857  ;  geologist  of  North  Carolina 
1864-1882  ;  author  of  many  valuable  reports  and  works 
on  the  Geology  of  this  State  ;  died  in   1885.  ^ 

In  1860  Rev.  John  Lycan  Kirkpatrick,  D.  D.,  became 
pi-^sident.  He  came  at  a  time  when  high  hopes  were  in 
the  college  atmosphere.  The  new  building  had  been 
completed  at  a  cost  of  from  $85,000  to  $90,000.  There 
was  a  great  attempt  to  secure  the  best  possible  teachers  ; 
and  the  salaries  were  raised  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars.  It  seemed  that  a  new  and  far  greater  era 
awaited  the  institution.  But  when  the  Civil  War  came 
on  everything  was  brought  to  a  standstill,  though  duties 
were  not  entirely  suspended  until  a  short  w^hile  before 
the  surrender.  There  were  from  four  to  six  teachers  and 
several  young  boys  in  the  college  halls  most  of  the  time 
during  those  gloomy  years.     However,  only  two  classes 

1.  Semicentennial  Catalogue,  p.  15;  Lieut. -General  Hill,  by  Judge  A.  C.  Avery. 

2.  General  Catalogue  ol  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  pp.  159  and  241;  Semi- 
centennial Catalogue,  p.  16. 


156  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

graduated.  These  were  in  1861  and  1864,  and  they  were 
small.  The  course  of  studies  was  vei-y  irregular  and  in 
many  cases  very  low.  The  institution  for  the  time  being 
became  a  high  school,  with  doors  open  to  the  youth  of 
the  South  wandering  from  place  to  place.  Dr.  Kirk- 
patrick  was  a  great  preacher  and  power,  and  had  his 
circumstances  been  at  all  favorable  would  have  accom- 
plished much.  He  had  done  his  best,  but  the  institution 
seemed  almost  ruined  ;  and  he  resigned  in  1866  to  accept 
a  chair  in  Washington  College,  afterwards  called  Wash- 
ington and  Lee  University. ^  He  was  born  in  Mecklen- 
burg county,  North  Carolina,  January  13th,  1813  ;  grad- 
uated at  Hampden-Sidney  College  1832 ;  licensed  to 
preach  in  1837,  and  was  pastor  at  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
Gainsville,  Alabama,  and  Charleston,  South  Carolina; 
professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  and  Belles-Lettres  in 
Washington  College  1866-1885,  the  year  of  his  death.  ^ 

When  the  war  closed  the  funds  of  the  college  were  al- 
most gone,  and  still  the  scholarships  sold  in  1851  were  to 
be  paid  in  free  tuition.  It  seemed  to  the  trustees  neces- 
sary to  repudiate  these  scholarships  or  to  reduce  the 
faculty  to  three  members.  They  chose  the  former  and 
made  strenuous  efforts  to  bring  back  life  to  the  almost 
lifeless  institution.  In  1866  Rev.  George  Wilson  Mc- 
Phail,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected  president.  They  gave 
him  six  strong  teachers  ;  and  he  was  the  professor  of 
Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy.  They  all  began  work 
wnth  zeal,  and  the  results  were  far  better  than  any  one 
had  ever  expected.  There  were  not  more  than  twenty 
pupils  during  the  first  year  of  his  administration ,  but  as 
prosperity  began  to  return  the  numbers  increased  rapidly, 
until  in  1870  there  was  an  enrollment  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five.^ 

1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  56-57,  131-139. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  57;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  17. 
8.    Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  58-59,141-146. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  157 

Dr.  McPhail  was  of  delicate  ccnstitutioii,  and  the  bur- 
dens of  bringing  back  life  and  patronage  to  the  college 
proved  too  much  for  him.  His  death  occurred  while  he 
was  in  the  office,  in  the  midst  of  the  Commencement  of 
1871,  June  28th.  He  was  a  great  man  and  his  influence 
upon  his  students  remained  through  life.  During  his 
short  term  of  five  years  much  was  done  to  build  up  and 
strengthen  every  phase  of  the  college.  In  this  time  sixty 
young  men  graduated,  one  in  1867  and  three  in  1868. 
He  was  born  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  December  26th,  1818  ; 
graduated  at  Yale  1835  ;  pastor  in  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania 1842-1861;  president  of  LaFayette  College, 
Pennsylvania,  1860-1862;  principal  of  the  Female 
Seminary  in  Norfolk  1860-1867.  ^ 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  McPhail,  John  Rennie  Blake, 
A.  M.,  professor  of  Physics  since  1861,  was  made  chair- 
man of  the  faculty.  His  term  of  office  continued  until 
1877.  These  six  years  were  among  the  most  prosperous 
the  institution  ever  had.  It  was  a  time  of  many  needed 
changes  and  universal  good  will.  His  administration 
compares  very  favorably  with  that  of  any  of  the  presi- 
dents. He  and  his  co-laborers,  for  the  members  of  the 
faculty  were  each  alike  responsible  for  a  part  of  the  ad- 
ministration, increased  tuition  fees,  introduced  entrance 
examinations  in  order  to  raise  the  standard  of  scholar- 
ship, extended  the  management  of  the  college  to  the 
Presbyteries  of  Georgia,  Florida  and  South  Carolina,  put 
a  financial  agent  into  the  field,  and  raised  the  curriculum 
to  a  great  extent.  During  these  six  years  one  hundred 
and  three  students  graduated,  and  two  hundred  and  five 
matriculated.  2 

Prof.  Blake,  in  addition  to  his  regular  department  and 
the   chairmanship,  was  clerk  of  the  faculty,  librarian, 


1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  59;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  18. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  60-61, 147-154;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  197. 


158  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

treasurer  of  several  funds  and  of  the  college  ;  and  re- 
ceived no  extra  pay  for  all  these  extra  duties.  He  held 
his  professorship  until  1885,  a  period  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  This  was  the  longest  term  in  the  whole  histoiy 
of  the  college  to  that  time  ;  and  since  there  has  been  but 
one  of  the  same  duration — that  of  William  Joseph  Mar- 
tin, A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  professor  of  Chemistry  from 
1869-1896.  He  was  born  in  Greenwood,  South  Carolina, 
1825  ;  graduated  at  the  University  of  Georgia  1846  ;  teacher 
in  South  Carolina  1846-1853,  and  in  the  Presbyterian 
Female  College  of  Greensboro,  Georgia,  1853-1856;  stu- 
dent in  Harvard  1856-1857 ;  professor  in  La  Grange 
Synodical  College,  Tennessee,  1857-1861;  professor  of 
Physics,  Chemistry  and  Geology  in  Davidson  College 
1861-1869,  Natural  Philosophy  and  Astronomy  1869- 
1885.  After  his  resignation  in  1885,  he  retired  to  private 
life  in  Greenwood,  South  Carolina.^ 

In  1877  Rev.  Andrew  Doz  Hepburn,  A.  M.,  D.  D., 
LL.  D.,  was  elected  the  seventh  presideno;  and  he  kept 
the  office  until  June,  1885.  He  was  very  successful  in 
stirring  up  new  ambitions  and  hopes  in  his  students  and 
as  a  president  did  much,  though  he  was  not  in  accord 
with  the  trustees  toward  the  latter  part  of  his  adminis- 
tration. One  hundred  and  twelve  students  graduated 
under  him,  and  three  hundred  and  eighteen  matricu- 
lated. He  resigned  in  1884  in  consideration  of  the  dif- 
ference of  opinion  between  himself  and  the  trustees.  He 
went  back  to  Miami  University,  Ohio,  of  which  institu- 
tion he  afterwards  became  president.^  He  was  born  in 
Williamsport,  Pennsylvania,  November  14th,  1830; 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Virginia  1852  ;  professor 
of  Logic  and  Rhetoric  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
1860-1867 ;    professor  in   Miami  University    till    1873 ; 

1.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  18;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol.  XII.,  p.  245. 

2.  Semi-CentenaryAddresses,pp.61-G3,i56-lt>5;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vol  VII., p.  197. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  159 

professor  of  Latin  and  French  in  Davidson  College 
1874-1875,  and  while  president  had  the  department  of 
Metaphysics  and  English  Literature  ;  given  LL.  D.  by 
the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1881.^ 

On  August  4th,  1885,  Rev.  Luther  McKinnon,  D.  D., 
was  elected  president.  He  was  born  in  Richmond  county. 
North  Carolina,  October  31st,  1840  ;  graduated  at  David- 
son 1861  and  at  Columbia  Theological  Seminary  1864; 
principal  of  Floral  College  1865-1866  ;  pastor  at  Golds- 
boro  1866-1871,  at  Concord  1871-1883,  and  at  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  1883-1885.  In  consequence  of  ill  health 
he  retired  from  the  presidency  in  1888,  and  now  lives  at 
Clinton,  North  Carolina. ^  The  number  of  students  was 
only  ninety-eight  the  year  before  he  took  hold,  but  dur- 
ing his  first  term  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifteen. 
Though  he  had  had  no  experience  in  school  work,  still 
his  influence  in  his  church  was  so  strong  that  patronage 
began  to  increase  rapidly  and  new  forces  began  to  look 
to  the  college.  3 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  McKinnon,  Rev.  John 
Bunyan  Shearer,  M.  A.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  assumed  the 
presidency,  and  he  still  holds  the  position.  He  was  born 
in  Appomattox  county,  Virginia,  1832;  graduated  at 
Hampden-Sidney  College  1851,  at  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia 1854,  and  L^nion  Theological  Seminary  1858;  pas- 
tor in  Chapel  Hill  1858-1862  and  in  Virginia  1862-1870  ; 
president  of  Stewart  (now  South  Western  Presbyterian 
University),  Tennessee,  1870-1879,  professor  in  same 
1879-1888;  D.  D.  from  Hampden-Sidney  College  and 
LL.  D.  from  South  Western  Presbyterian  University.* 

His  administration  has    shown  steady  progress  from 

1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  62;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  19;  General 
Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  pp.  80  and  241 

2.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  pp.  63-64 ;  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  p.  21 ;  letter 
from  Dr.  McKinnon. 

3.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  64. 

4.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  pp.  21-22. 


160  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  beginning.  When  he  assumed  control  there  were 
enrolled  about  one  hundred  boys,  but  for  the  past  few 
years  there  have  been  upon  average  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five.i  The  endowment  fund  left  by  the  war 
amounted  to  about  $70,000  ;  and  a  good  deal  of  this  was 
unproductive.  By  1892  this  had  been  increased  to  $110,- 
000,  and  this  whole  amount  was  well  invested.  The 
above  amount,  w^ith  tw^elve  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
land  in  Minnesota,  is  their  present  fund.^  There  are 
now  on  the  campus,  in  addition  to  the  main  building, 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  Gymnasium,  Old  Chapel,  two 
Society  Halls,  Oak  Row,  Elm  Row  and  Tammany.  The 
library  has  11,000  volumes;  the  three  laboratories  of 
Chemistry,  Mineralology  and  Physics,  are  well  supplied 
with  apparatus.  The  two  literary  societies  have  been 
strong  factors  in  the  litei-ary  and  social  growth  of  the 
student  life.  The  Davidson  Monthly,  which  with  the  be- 
ginning of  the  school  year  1897-98,  changed  its  name  to 
The  Davidson  College  Magazine,  is  now  in  its  fourteenth 
volume  ;  and  it  has  contributed  no  little  to  the  welfare 
of  the  institution. 2 

The  regular  professors  from  the  beginning  have  been  : 
Robert  Hall  Morrison ,  A.  M. ,  D .  D. ,  Sci . ,  Math . ,  1836-40  ; 
Patrick  Jones  Sparrow,  D.  D.,  Langs.,  1837-40;  Samuel 
Williamson,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  Math.,  1840-41,  Chem.,  Men- 
tal and  Moral  Philos.,  Rhet.,  1841-50,  Mental  and  Moral 
Philos.,  Rhet., '1850-54 ;  Samuel  Blain  Owen  Wilson, 
A.  M.,  Langs.,  1841-53;  Mortimer  Davidson  Johnston, 
A.  M.,  Math.,  Nat.  Philos.,  1841-53  ;  Elijah  Frink  Rock- 
well, A.  M.,  D.  D.,  Chem.,  Nat.  Philos.,  1850-52,  Chem., 
Geol.,  1852-54,  Lat.,  Mod.  Hist.,  1854-68;  James  Ruet 
Gilland,  A.  M.,  Langs.   1852-54;    Daniel  Harvey   Hill, 

1.  Catalogues,  1888-1897. 

2.  Catalogue,  1896-1897;  Davidson  Monthly.  Vol.  VII.,  p.  197. 

3.  Catalogue,  1896-1897;  Davidson  Monthly,  Vols.  I.-XIIl,  and  Davidson  College 
Magazine,  Vol.  I. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  161 

Math.,  Nat.  Philos.,  1853-54,  Math.,  Civil  Engineering, 
1854-58  ;  Clement  Daniel  Fishburne,  A.  M.,  Greek,  Anc. 
Hist.,  1855-60  ;  Drury  Lacy,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  Moral  Philos., 
Sacred  Lit.,  Evidences  of  Christ.,  1855-61 ;  John  Adams 
Leland,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Nat.  Philos.,  Astr.,  1854-60; 
Washington  Caruthers  Kerr,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Chem., 
Mineralology,  GeoL,  1855-65;  Alexander  Mclver,  A. 
M.,  Math.,  1859-69;  Victor  Clay  Barringer,  A.  M., 
Belles-Lettres,  1860-65;  John  Lycan  I^irkpatrick,  D. 
D.,  Mental  and  Moral  Philos.,  Evidences  of  Christ., 
1860-66;  William  Bingham  Lynch,  A.  M.,  Greek,  Anc. 
Hist.,  1860-64;  John  Rennie  Blake,  A.  M.,  Phys., 
Chem.,  GeoL,  1861-69,  Nat.  Philos.,  Astr.,  1869-85; 
George  Wilson  McPhail,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Mental  and 
Moral  Philos.,  1866-71 ;  John  Monroe  Anderson,  A.  M., 
Eng.,  Logic,  Evidences  of  Christ.,  1866-73,  Eng.,  Polit. 
Philos.,  1873-74;  Wilson  Gaines  Richardson,  M.  A., 
Ph.  D.,  Langs.,  1866-74;  Charles  Phillips,  D.  D.,  LL. 
D.,  Math.,  Astr.,  1868-69,  Math.,  Engineering,  1869-75  ; 
William  Jo.seph  Martin,  Chem.,  GeoL,  Nat.  Hist.,  1869- 
87,  Chem.,  1887-96;  James  Fair  Latimer,  A.  M.,  Ph. 
D.,  LL.  D.,  Metaphysics,  1872-73,  Psychol.,  Logic, 
Ethics,  1873-75,  Greek,  German,  1875-83  ;  Andrew  Doz 
Hepburn,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Lat.,  French,  1874-75, 
Mental  Philos.,  Eng.  Lit.,  1875-85;  William  Mynn 
Thornton,  A.  B.,  Greek,  German,  1874-75  ;  John  Russell 
Sampson,  A.  M.,  Lat.,  French,  1875-83;  William  Wal- 
ler Carson,  C.  E.,  M.  E.,  1877-83  ;  William  Daniel  Vin- 
son, M.  A.,  Math.,  1883-97;  William  James  Bingham, 
M.  A.,Lat.,  French,  1883-87;  Luther  McKinnon,  D. 
D.,  Ethics,  Bible,  1885-88  ;  William  Samuel  Gi-aves,  M. 
A.,  B.  L.,  Greek,  German,  1885-87,  Lat.,  French,  1887- 
93;  William  Spencer  Currell,  M.  A.,  Ph.  D.,  Eng., 
Psychol.,  Pol.  Econ.,  1886-94;  Henry  Louis  Smith,  A. 
M.,  Ph.  D.,Nat.  Philos.,  1887--;  John  Bunyan  Shearer, 


162  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

M.  A.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Bible,  Moral  Philos.,  1888- ;  Caleb 
Richmond  Harding,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Greek,  German, 
1888- ;  W.  R.  Gray,  Pb.  D.,  Latin,  French,  1893- ; 
Thomas  P.  Harrison ,  Ph.  D.,  Eng.,  1895- ;  William  J. 
Martin,  Jr.,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  Adjunct  Nat.  Sci.,  1895-96, 
Chem.,  1896- ;  J.  L.  Douglas,  Math.,  upon  death  of  Dr. 
Vinson,  August  20th,  1897. ^ 

The  acting  professors  have  been  :  William  Nathaniel 
Dickey,  Nat.  Philos.,  Astr.,  1860-61;  Stephen  Frontis, 
French,  1860-61 ;  Robert  Lewis  Harrison,  M.  A.,  Greek, 
German,  1875-76;  William  Scott  Fleming,  A.  M., 
Greek,  German,  1883-85  ;  William  Nelson  Mebane,  A. 
B.,  Greek,  German,  1884-85;  Chalmers  Colin  Norwood, 
A.  M.,  Nat.  Philos.,  Astr.,  1885-87;  Gonzales  Lodge, 
Ph.  D.,  Greek,  German,  1886-88.  Paul  Patterson  Winn, 
A.  M.,  Langs.,  1871-74,  and  Samuel  Barnett,  A.  M., 
1874-77,  have  been  adjunct  professors.  The  following 
have  been  tutors  :  M.  D.  Johnston,  A.  M.,  Math.,  1837- 
41 ;  T.  M.  Kirkpatrick,  A.  M.,  1841-49,  and  P.  P.  Winn, 
A.  M.,  1869-71,  Langs  ;  C.  Mc.  Hepburn,  A.  B.,  1880-81, 
J.  P.  Paisley,  A.  B.,  1881-84,  S.  R.  McKee,  1887-88,  R. 
R.  Stevenson,  1888-89,  T.  E.  WinecofF,  1889-90,  Banks 
Withers,  1890-91,  W.  L.  Lingle,  1890-93,  Math.  J.  B. 
Wharey,  A.  B.,  1893-95,  and  F.  F.  Rowe,  A.  B.,  1896- 
97,  have  been  instructors. ^ 

Among  the  list  given  above  are  many  of  great  ability 
and  influence.  They  graduated  from  many  of  the  lead- 
ing institutions  in  America,  and  some  studied  in  Europe. 
Their  devotion  has  been  as  great  as  their  ability.  They 
have  labored  heroically  for  the  cause  of  christian  educa- 
tion, and  there  are  many  evidences  of  the  splendid  results 
from  such  labors.  President  Shearer  was  the  first  to 
make  the  fight  against  State  aid  to  higher  institutions 

1.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  pp.  13-22;  Catalogues,  1888-1897;  Memorial  Num-' 
ber  Davidson  College  Magazine.  October,  1897. 

2.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  pp.  22-24;  Catalogues,  1888-1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  163 

of  learning  in  North  Carolina.  He,  however,  has  now 
almost  abandoned  the  attempt.  During  the  first  fifty 
years,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty  pupils 
matriculated  in  the  institution ;  and  a  great  part  of 
these  received  their  only  education  there.  Of  'the  whole 
number  of  matriculates  during  those  years  one  hundred 
and  ninety-three  entered  the  ministry.  ^  All  over  this 
State  and  the  whole  Southland  can  be  found  pupils  of 
these  teachers  ;  and  wherever  they  have  gone  they  have 
become  good  and  intelligent  citizens.  There  are  not 
many  authors  among  this  large  faculty  ;  the  majority  of 
them  were  too  busy  in  making  men  to  make  books.  As 
far  as  the  writer  can  ascertain  the  list  is  as  follows  : 
Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  Elements  of  Algebra,  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  Crucifixion  of  Christ ;  W.  C.  Kerr,  a  great  num- 
ber of  reports  on  the  Geology  of  North  Carolina;  W.  G. 
Richardson,  Latin  Pronunciation  in  American  Colleges  ; 
A.  D.  Hepburn,  Rhetoric;  J.  B.  Shearer,  Bible  Course 
Syllabus.  2 

There  are  and  have  been  for  sometime  three  courses 
leading  to  degrees — A.  B.,  B.  S.,  and  A.  M.  The  first 
two  require  four  years,  and  the  A.  M.  can  be  taken  in 
one  year  after  having  completed  either  of  the  others. 
For  entrance  one  must  stand  on  Arithmetic,  Algebra  to 
equations  of  the  second  degree ;  Gildersleeve's  Latin 
Primer,  Reader  and  Grammar,  Exercise  Book,  Caesar, 
Cicero's  Orations  Against  Catiline;  Goodwin's  Greek 
Grammar  and  Reader  ('comprising  the  first  two  books  of 
the  Anabasis) ,  White's  Beginners'  Greek  Book  ;  English 
Gram  mar.  3 

The  course  of  studies  for  A.  B.  is  :  Freshman  Class  : 
Latin — Select  Orations  of  Cicero,  Livy,  Gildersleeve's 
Exercise  Book,  Composition;  Greek — Xenophon's  Hel- 

1.  Semi-Centenary  Addresses,  p.  6b. 

2.  Semi-Centennial  Catalogue,  pp.  i.>-'22. 

3.  Catalogue,  lb96-1897. 


164  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

lenica  (Blake) ,  Lysias,  Goodwin's  Greek  Grammar  (re- 
vised edition) ,  WinchelPs  Greek  Syntax,  Goodell's  Greek 
in    English ;    Mathematics — Bowser's    College    Algebra, 
Olney's  University  Algebra,  Phillips  &  Fisher's  Geome- 
try ;  Physics — Gage's   Elements   of  Physics;  English — 
Genung's   Outlines   of  Rhetoric,   Strang's   Exercises  in 
English,    Composition,    English    Classics;    Biblical   In- 
struction— A    Reference    Bible,    Bible    Course    Syllabus 
(Shearer),    a    Bible    Dictionary,    Coleman's    Historical 
Text-Book  and  Atlas  of  Biblical  Geography.     Sophomore 
Class:  Latin — Cicero   pro   Milone,  Horace    (Chase   and 
Stuart) ,    Private     Reading,    Gildersleeve's    Grammar, 
Composition  ;     Greek — Herodotus-,   Homer    (Seymour's 
School  Iliad),  Goodwin's  Grammar,  Seemann's  Mythol- 
ogy,   Pennell's  Ancient    Greece,   Composition;    Mathe- 
matics— Phillips  &  Fisher's  Geometry,  finished,  Jones' 
Drill  Book  in  Trigonometry,  Algebra,  finished;  Chem- 
istry— Remsen's    Briefer    Course,    Lectures;    English — 
Genung's  Practical  Rhetoric,  and  Rhetorical  Analysis, 
Poetics,  Selections  from  English  and  American  Authors, 
American  Literature,  Compositions  twice  a  month  ;  Bib- 
lical Instruction — same  books  as  in  the  Freshman  Class, 
and  Prideaux's  Connection  of  Sacred  and  Profane  His- 
tory (Harper).     Junior  Class    (studies   elective,   five   to 
be  chosen)  :    Latin — Plautus'  Menaechmi,  and  Pseudo- 
lus,  Tacitus'   Annals,    Private    Reading,    Gildersleeve's 
Grammar,    Allen's    History    of   Rome,   Latin   Composi- 
tion ;  Greek — Demosthenes,  Euripides,  Greek  Literature 
(Jebb) ,  Greek  Poets  in  English  Verse,  Goodwin's  Gram- 
mar,   Composition,    Lectures;     Mathematics — Hardy's 
Analytic  Geometry,  Venable's  Notes  on  Solid  Geometay, 
Hardy's     Calculus;      Physics — Cumming's     Electricity 
Treated  Experimentally,  Houston  and  Kennelly's  Alterr 
nating  Currents,  Lectures;  Chemistry — Remsen's  Lab- 
oratory Manual,  Venable's  Qualitative  Analysis  (second 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  165 

edition) ,  Lectures ;  English — Old  English  Language 
and  Literature,  Middle  English  Language  and  Litera- 
ture, Lectures,  Essays;  History — Green's  Short  History 
of  the  English  People,  Myer's  Mediaeval  and  Modern 
History,  Topical  Investigation ;  Political  Economy — 
Perry,  Jevons,  Taussig,  Wells;  French — Whitney's 
French  Grammar,  Erckmann-Chatrian's  Waterloo  Petite 
Histoire  du  Peuple  Francais  (Lacombe) ,  Private  Read- 
ing;  German — Joynes-Meissner's  Grammar,  Grimm, 
Anderson,  Hauff,  and  other  prose  writers;  Biblical  In- 
struction— Bible,  Syllabus,  Bible  Dictionary,  Coleman, 
Robinson's  English  Harmony,  Lectures,  Evidences. 
Senior  Class  (studies  elective,  five  to  be  chosen)  : 
Latin — Juvenal  (Hardy) ,  Phormio  and  Andria  of  Ter- 
ence, Pliny's  Letters,  Private  Reading,  History  of  Roman 
Literature  (Cruttwell)  ;  Greek — Thucydides,  Sophocles, 
^Eschylus,  Aristophanes,  Lectures,  Comparative  Gram- 
mar, Gayley's  Mythology;  Mathematics — Byerly's  Dif- 
ferential Calculus,  Byerly's  Integral  Calculus,  Lectures; 
Applied  Mathematics — Church's  Descriptive  Geometry, 
Davies'  Surveying,  Heuck's  Field  Book  for  Engineers; 
Astronomy  and  Meteorology — Young's  Astronomy, 
Waldo's  Elementary  Meteorology,  Lectures  ;  Mineralogy 
and  Geology — Foye's  Handbook  of  Mineralogy,  Le 
Conte's  Elements  of  Geology,  Lectures;  Chemistry — 
Thorpe's  Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis,  Remsen's  Or- 
ganic Chemistry;  Logic  (first  term) — Davis'  Elements 
of  Logic  (Deductive  and  Inductive)  ;  Constitutional  His- 
tory (second  term) — Wilson's  State,  Myer's  General 
History;  English — English  Literature,  Poetics,  Shaks- 
pere,  Milton,  Browning,  Tennyson,  Lectures,  Essays; 
Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy — Elements  of  Psychology, 
(Davis),  Haven's  History  of  Philosophy,  Lectures; 
French — Whitney's  French  Grammar,  Selections  from 
Erckmann-Chatrian,    Corneille,    Racine,    Moliere,    and 


166  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Victor  Hugo,  Private  Reading,  Composition  ;  German — 
Joynes-Meissner's  Grammar,  Hosmer's  German  Litera- 
ture, Composition,  Lessing,  Goethe,  Schiller;  Book- 
keeping and  Commercial  Law  (to  be  taken  as  an  extra 
or  eclectic  study) — Text-books  I'eserved.^ 

THE  TERMS   OF  EXPENSES   ARE: 

Tuition— first   Term, $25  00    second  Term. . .  .$35  00. . .  .$60  00 

Room  rent,       "  10  00  "  . . . .  15  00. . . .  25  00 

Incidentals,      "  6  00  "  ....     9  00. ...   15  00 

Medical  fee,     "  100  "  ....     2  00....     3  00 

Deposit  for  damages  to  buildings,  etc., 2  00 

Day  board,  in  families,  per  month, from  9  00  to  10  00 

Day  board,  in  club,  per  month, from  6  00  to    8  00 

Wood,  per  cord, from  1  25  to    1  50 

Lights,  about, 2  00 

Washing,  per  month, from  1  00  to     1  25 


GUILFORD    COLLEGE. 

For  the  present  purposes  enough  has  been  said  about 
the  Quaker  settlements  in  North  Carolina.  Their  atti- 
tude on  the  educational  question  demands  further  con- 
sideration. George  Fox,  their  founder,  was  a  strong 
advocate  of  its  advantages  and  necessity.  But,  owing  to 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of  their  settlement  in  this 
State,  their  real  educational  condition  was  not  known  un- 
til 1830  ;  and  it  was  then  very  poor.^  At  a  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  this  year  committees  were  appointed  to  find  out 
and  report  the  real  condition.  To- a  Meeting  of  1832  was 
made  the  following  report :  ''There  is  not  a  school  in 
the  limits  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  that  is  under  the  care 
of  a  committee,  either  of  a  Monthly  or  Preparative  Meet- 
ing. The  teachers  of  Friends'  children  are  mostly  not 
members  of  our  Societv,   and   all  the  schools  are  in  a 


1.  Catalogue,  18yG-l897.  pp.  24-26. 

2.  Ibid,  1896-1897,  p.  55. 

3.  Dr.  Nereus  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  November,  1889,  pp.  63-64. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  167 

mixed  state/  '  This  report  moved  the  Meeting  to  ap- 
point a  committee  to  get  up  and  send  out  an  address  on 
education.  Dougan  Clark,  Jeremiah  Hubbard,  Nathan 
Mendenhall,  Joshua  Stanley  and  David  White,  consti- 
tuted the  committee.  They  sent  out  an  address,  a  part  of 
which  was  :  "We  believe  that  the  Christian  and  literary 
education  of  our  children  consistent  with  the  simplicity 
of  our  profession  is  a  subject  of  very  deep  interest,  if  not 
*of  paramount  importance  in  supporting  the  various  tes- 
timonies that  we  profess  to  bear  to  the  world,  and  even 
to  the  very  existence  and  continuance  of  the  Society."^ 

At  the  same  Meeting  they  began  to  raise  money,  and 
secured  $370.55  in  subscriptions.  Forty-five  members 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  buy  a  farm,  locate  the 
school  and  draw  up  plans  for  the  building  and  manage- 
ment. Plans  were  laid  before  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
1832  and  adopted,  and  about  $1,200  were  pledged  for 
carrying  them  out.  The  school  was  located  and  a  char- 
ter secured  from  the  legislature  in  1833.  The  charter 
was  obtained  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  George  C.  Men- 
denhall, the  most  prominent  Quaker  in  politics  of  that 
time.  There  was  then  great  opposition  to  the  Friends, 
because  of  their  decided  views  on  anti-slavery  questions. 
Had  a  charter  for  a  Quaker  school  been  asked  for,  it 
would  have  been  refused.  The  committee  appointed  lor 
this  purpose  copied  a  charter  from  that  of  a  school  at 
Clemmonsville  and  left  blank  the  name.  This  was 
passed,  and  afterwards  New  Garden  Boarding  School 
was  inserted  in  the  blank  space.  ^ 

The  site  chosen  was  about  six  miles  northwest  of 
Greensboro  and  on  land  just  obtained  by  purchase  and 
given   by   Mr.   Elihu   Coffin.     By   1834  the   Friends  in 


1.  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  November,  1889,  pp.  63-64;  President  L. 
L.  Hobbs.  The  Earlhamite,  January.  1888.  p.  74. 

2  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian.  November,  1889,  pp.  64-65;  President 
Hobbs,  The  Earlhamite,  January,  1888,  p.  74 ;  Catalogue,  1888-1889,  p.  9. 


168  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

England  had  given  as  much  as  two  thousand  dollars. 
In  1837  Mr.  Joseph  J.  Gurney  gave  $488.88.  Two  years 
later  Mr.  George  Howland,  of  the  New  England  Yearly 
Meeting,  made  a  gift  of  $1,000,  and  later  an  equal 
amount.  Mr.  RoJand  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the 
Meetings  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
were  very  liberal  in  giving  to  this  work.  Nathan  Hunt 
and  Jeremiah  Hubbard  were  perhaps  the  most  active 
and  influential  of  the  Friends  of  this  State  in  behalf  of 
the  proposed  institution.  From  these  gifts  and  the 
credit  of  the  North  Carolina  Yearly  Meeting  for  five 
thousand  dollars  buildings  were  erected.  The  main 
building  was  126x40  feet ;  and  it  was  completed  for  the 
ojDening,  August  1st,  1837.^ 

There  were  twenty-five  boys,  and  the  same  number  of 
girls,  enrolled  the  first  day.  Mr.  Dougan  Clark  and  bis 
wife  were  the  first  superintendents.  They  were  both  in- 
fluential members  of  the  Society  and  served  the  school 
with  great  credit  until  December  2nd,  1842.  Then  came  : 
Joshua  and  Abigail  Stanley,  1842-47;  Thomas  T.  Hunt 
and  wife,  1847-49  ;  Nereus  Mendenhall,  David  Marshall, 
Aaron  Stalker,  1849-59;  Jonathan  E.  Cox,  1859-64; 
John  Carter,  1864-68;  school  rented  to  Jonathan  E. 
Cox,  1868-71,  and  leased  to  Mr.  Cox  and  Ezra  M. 
Meader,  1871-72;  George  N.  Hartley,  1872-78;  Jere- 
miah S.  Cox  and  wife,  1878-80;  Jesse  M.  Bundy  and 
wife,  1880-87.  At  this  time  the  office  of  superintendent 
was  abolished.- 

The  school  at  once  began  to  make  itself  felt.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  circular  from  the  trustees  made  in  1848  : 
"We  think  it  must  be  apparent  to  all  that  the  school  has 

1.  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  November,  1889,  pp.  65-60;  President 
Hobbs.The  Earlhamite,  Jannary,  1888,  p.  75;  Catalogues,  1888-1897;  Week's  South, 
ern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  301. 

2.  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  December,  lb89,  pp.  103-100;  President 
Hobbs,  The  Earlhamite,  January,  1888,  pp.  76-77;  Week's  Southern  Quakers  and 
Slavery,  p.  301. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  169 

been  of  great  benefit  to  our  youth, — nay,  to  society  at 
large.  It  has  furnished,  not  only  to  our  body,  but  to 
the  country,  many  well  qualified  teachers;  and  thus, 
through  them,  directly  exerted  an  influence  for  good 
which  will  continue  to  spread,  and  which  will  no  doubt 
be  felt  by  future  generations."  From  the  beginning  in- 
struction was  given  in  English  Grammar,  Spelling, 
Reading,  Scriptures,  Latin,  Greek,  French,  Logic, 
Arithmetic,  Algebra,  Geometry,  Mensuration,  Natural 
Philosophy,  and  Physiology.  At  first  no  one  except  the 
children  of  Quakers  could  become  pupils,  but  this  narrow 
idea  was  soon  abandoned.^  During  1850  there  were 
ninety-four  students,  forty  of  whom  were   not  Friends.  ^ 

Some  of  the  quaint  customs  of  tho'se  early  days  are 
very  interesting.  The  girls  were  kept  away  from  the 
presence  of  the  boys  except  on  rather  rare  occasions. 
There  was  a  uniform  simplicity  of  dress  ;  and  the  Quaker 
bonnet  and  coat  were  rigidly  adhered  to.  **Roaching" 
the  hair  and  wearing  whiskers  were  forbidden.  During 
the  summer-time  recitations  were  heard  before  break- 
fast. ^  These  rules  speak  for  themselves:  "In  school 
you  are  to  refrain  from  laughing,  talking,  whispering, 
or  making  a  noise  with  your  feet ;  learning  your  lessons 
in  silence  ;  and  when  repeating  them  to  your  masters  or 
mistresses  you  are  to  speak  audibly,  deliberately,  and 
distinctly.  In  the  evening  after  supper  you  are  again  to 
collect  yourselves  together,  and  after  the  calling  of  your 
names,  retire  to  your  bed  chambers  and  undress  in  as 
much  stillness  as  possible ,  folding  up  your  clothes  neatly 
and  putting  them  in  their  proper  places."'* 

From  1850  to  1856  the  school  was  very  prosperous  as 
to  numbers,  but  as  to  finances  a  failure.     There  were  128 


1.  President  Hobbs,  The  Earlhamite.  January.  1888,  p.  86;  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guil- 
ford Collegian.  February.  1890,  pp.  16 1-162. 

2.  Week's  Southern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  .301. 

3.  Dr.  Mendenhall.  Guilford  Collegian,  February.  1890,  p.  161. 

4.  President  Hobbs,  The  Earlhamite,  January,  1888,  p.  76. 


170  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

students  in  1853,  143  in  1854,  and  179  in  1855.  From 
1856  the  numbers  declined,  in  consequence  of  sickness 
and  tlie  pai^iic  which  spread  over  the  country  in  1857.^ 
During  this  year  it  was  found  out  that  the  institution 
was  badly  in  debt,  owing  to  a  bad  system  of  keeping 
accounts  and  collecting.  By  1858  the  indebtedness 
amounted  to  $4,173  above  all  the  assets;  and  later  it 
was  as  large  as  $27,245.52,  with  only  about  $20,000 
worth  of  land,  buildings  and  furniture.  In  1860  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  the  Yearly  Meeting  to  consult 
with  the  trustees  as  to  paying  off  the  debt  by  selling  the 
whole  plant  and  its  appurtenances.  The  advertisement 
of  the  sale  was  made,  but  before  the  transaction  took 
place  it  was  decided  to  refer  the  whole  matter  again  to 
the  Yearly  Meeting.  By  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1861  the 
financial  obligations  w^ere  assumed,  and  $3,000  were 
subscribed.  Soon  after  this  about  $15,000  were  raised 
by  the  other  Meetings,  especially  the  Indiana  and  Balti- 
timore  ;  and  by  1865  it  was  reported  that  the  whole  debt 
had  been  liquidated. ^ 

In  1861  Jonathan  E.  Cox  rented  the  school ;  and 
he  ran  it  as  a  private  enterprise  during  the  whole  of  the 
Civil  War.  When  peace  came  in  1865  the  Friends  again 
desired  to  control  it  as  their  own  institution.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  a  new  and  greater  era.  Through  all  of 
its  past  difficulties  the  school  had  wielded  a  great  in- 
fluence— it  was  the  greatest  institution  in  Southern 
Quakerism.  Each  year  from  this  on  hopes  looked 
brighter.  The  Quakers  wxre  making  a  steady  growth  in 
North  Carolina,  though  in  a  very  quiet  way.^  In  1881 
Francis  Thompson  King  and  Dr.  J.  C.  Thomas,  of  Balti- 
more, gave  $22,000.     A  part  of  this  was  used  in  repair- 


1.  Week's  Southern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  301. 

2.  Ibid,  p.  302;  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  December,  1889,  pp.  104-105, 
January,  1890,  pp.  126-127. 

3.  Week's  Southern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  pp.  802,  317. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  171 

ing  and  enlarging  the  old  building,  and  in  making  King 
Hall  out  of  the  church,  given  to  the  school  by  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  1882.  In  1885  King  Hall  was  burned,  but 
the  institution  stopped  only  a  day  ;  and  during  the  sum- 
mer of  the  next  year  it  was  rebuilt.  In  the  fall  after  the 
fire  Archdale  Hall  was  erected  as  a  boys'  dormitory. ^ 
The  school  was  now  almost  ready  to  change  its  name 
and  to  enlarge  its  sphere  of  work  ;  and  this  was  done  in 
1888  when  it  was  rechartered  as  Guilford  College. ^ 

During  the  first  fifty  years  of  the  school's  life  there 
were  at  the  same  time  a  superintendent  and  a  principal. 
The  former  was  the  treasurer,  and  the  latter  at  the  head 
of  the  school-room  work.  The  principals  have  been  : 
Jonathan  L.  Slocum,  1837-38  ;  John  L.  Ciark  and  James 
Chase,  1838-39;  Nereus  Mendenhall,  1839-42;  Alfred 
H.  Lindley,  1842-44;  Jonathan  W.  Albertson,  1844-46; 
Xereus  Mendenhall,  1846-47;  William  Nicholson,  one 
term  of  1847;  Samuel  D.  Coffin,  1847-49;  Nereus  Men- 
denhall, 1849-52;  Dougan  Clark,  1852-56;  John  R. 
Hubbard,  1856-60;  Nereus  Mendenhall,  1860-66;  A. 
Marshall  Elliot,  one  term  of  1866-67  ;  Samuel  C.  Collins, 
1867-70;  Pendleton  R.  King,  one  term  of  1870-71; 
George  N.  Hartley,  1871-78;  L.  L.  Hobbs,  1878-84; 
Joseph  Moore,  1884-88.^  Among  these  were  many  of 
fine  ability  and  deep  consecration,  but  Dr.  Nereus  Men- 
denhall ranks  as  the  most  distinguished  and  unique. 
He  was  born  August  14th,  1819  ;  took  his  literary  degree 
at  Haverford  College  and  M.  D,  at  the  Jefferson  College 
of  Medicine,  both  in  Pennsylvania  ;  principal  of  the  New 
Garden  Boarding  School  four  different  times  ;  a  civil  en- 
gineer in  the  survey  of  the  Western  North  Carolina  Rail- 
road ;  teacher  in  the  Penn   Charter  School  of  Philadel- 


1.  Dr.  Mendenhall,  Guilford  Collegian,  January,  1890,  pp.  128-129;  Catalogue, 
1888-1889,  pp.  12.  14. 

2.  Catalogues.  1888-1897. 

3.  President  Hobbs,  The  Earlhamite,  January,  1888,  p.  77. 


172  'i'HE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

pliia ;  a  leader  in  the  religious  and  educational  move- 
ments of  his  church  ;  one  of  the  greatest  teachers  of  the 
State  ;  died  October  29th,  1893.  ^ 

With  the  opening  of  the  school  year  1888-1889  began 
a  greater  life.  In  the  place  of  a  high  school  course  and 
faculty  were  instituted  a  college  curriculum  and  teaching 
force.  Prof.  Lewis  Lyndon  Hobbs,  who  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Boarding  School  since  1876,  became  the 
first  president ;  and  he  still  serves  with  much  success. 
He  was  born  at  New  Garden,  now  Guilford  College, 
North  Carolina,  in  1849  ;  entered  Haverford  College  in 
1872,  where  he  received  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  ;  professor  of 
Greek  and  Mathematics  in  New  Garden  Boarding  School, 
1876-78  ;  principal  of  the  same,  1878-84,  and  professor  of 
Greek  and  Latin,  1884-88. ^ 

During  his  administration  many  improvements  in  the 
way  of  buildings  and  equipment  have  been  made.  A 
large.  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall  was  erected  in  1891-1892  ;  and 
the  Duke  Science  Hall  is  now  (February,  1898,)  ready 
for  use.  The  endowment  fund  amounts  to  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  The  course  of  studies  is  almost  as  high  as  t-hat 
of  any  of  the  leading  colleges  in  the  State.  The  grad- 
uates enter  the  Senior  Class  at  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  without  examinations.  The  faculty  from  the 
beginning  of  the  college  has  been  composed  of  from 
seven  to  twelve  members  ;  and  all  of  these  have  had  fine 
training  for  their  special  work.  The  library  has  grown 
with  the  other  features  until  it  now  has  four  thousand 
•volumes  ;  and  the  cabinet  of  Natural  History  is  among 
the  very  finest  in  the  State.  Two  degrees,  A.  B.  and  B. 
S.,  are  given.  The  college  course  embraces  four  years; 
and  a  two  years  preparatory  department  is  annexed. 
By   the   endowment  fund   and   the  rigid  economy  of  the 

1.  Mrs.  Mary  Mendenhall  Ho'obs,  Guilford  Collegian,  November,  189:},  pp.  57-C3, 
and  December,  189J5,  pp.  93-105 ;  Week's  Southern  Quakers  and  Slavery,  p.  131. 

2.  Guilford  Collegian,  Vol.  VIII.,  May,  1895,  p.  217 ;  Letter  from  President  Hobbs- 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  173 

administration  the  expenses  are  kept  clown  to  a  low 
point.  For  a  year  of  thirty-eight  weeks  only  $171.00  for 
the  college  course  and  $157.00  for  the  preparatory  are 
charged.  The  institution  is  co-educational  still,  as  it  has 
been  through  its  whole  history.  The  numbers  for  the 
past  nine  years  have  ranged  from  about  140  to  209,  and 
these  have  been  somewhat  equally  divided  among  the 
sexes.  The  Quakers  have  always  advocated  that  in  most 
respects  woman  is  equal  intellectually  to  man  ;  and  New 
Garden  Boarding  School  and  Guilford  College  have 
shown  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina  that  there  is  much 
of  truth  in  such  views.  ^ 

The  faculty  for  1896-1897  was  :  Lewis  Lyndon  Hobbs, 
A.  B.,  A.  M.,  Haverford  College,  president,  Latin,  Men- 
tal and  Moral  Philosophy;  Mary  E.  Mendenhall,  B.  S., 
Guilford  College,  English  Literature,  Rhetoric;  J. 
Franklin  Davis,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  Haverford  College,  Greek, 
German;  George  W.  White,  A.  B.,  Haverford  College, 
treasurer.  Mathematics;  A.  W.  Blair,  A.  M.,  Haverford 
College,  Natural  Science,  History;  Louisa  Osborne,  A. 
B.,  Earlham  College,  governess,  assistant  in  Latin; 
Lydia  N.  Blair,  A.  B.,  Earlham  College,  English,  princi- 
pal of  preparatory  department;  Lillian  J.  Hill,  Drawl- 
ing, Painting;  Myra  Alderman  Albright,  Music; 
Samuel  H.  Hodgin,  A.  B.,  Guilford  College,  assistant  in 
preparatory  department ;  Laura  D.  Worth,  B.  S.,  Guil- 
ford College,  graduate  of  Boston  School  of  Gymnastics, 
Physical  Training,  Some  of  these  have  been  connected 
with  the  college  since  its  beginning.  Among  the  other 
teachers  who  have  been  in  the  faculty  at  different  times 
are:  John  W.  Woody,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  LL.  B.,  History, 
Political  Science,  1888-94;  Elwood  C.  Perisho,  B.  S., 
Mathematics,  1888-93;  Gertrude  W.  Mendenhall,  B.  S., 
Natural  Science,  1888-91 ;  Mary  M.  Petty,  B.  S.,  Latin, 

1.    Letter  from  President  Hobbs;  Catalogues,  1888-1897. 


174  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

History,  1890-93;  Walter  W.  Haviland,  A.  B.,  Mathe- 
matics, 1892-96.1  There  have  been  but  two  authors 
among  the  faculty.  In  1891  Prof.  Woody  published 
Elements  of  Pedagogy  ; 2  and  Prof.  Davis  has  written  a 
translation  of  an  Anglo-Saxon  Grammar. 

Thus  has  this  quiet  still  interesting  old  school  grown 
from  year  to  year ;  and  it  increases  in  strength  and 
utility  as  the  days  go  by.  As  the  Quaker  Society  has 
been  a  unique  and  beneficial  element,  so  has  this  insti- 
tution been  an  educational  power  in  this  State.  Many 
of  its  pupils  have  become  leaders  in  the  various  fields  of 
life;  Dr.  Braxton  Craven  is  an  illustrious  example. 
There  are  a  good  many  proofs  that  its  fine  influence  has 
been  appreciated.  Among  these  is  the  gift  of  B.  N.  and 
J.  B.  Duke.  These  generous  men  in  the  fall  of  1897 
gave  ten  thousand  dollars,  with  which  to  erect  the 
Science  Hall.^  With  this  additional  equipment  the  col- 
lege starts  out  on  a  more  hopeful  era. 

TRINITY    COLLEGE. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  eighteenth  century  Methodism 
in  North  Carolina  has  already  been  given.  A  few  points 
in  reference  to  its  growth  and  development  during  the 
past  ninety-seven  years  will  here  be  considered.  In  1800 
six  thousand,  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  whites,  and 
two  thousand,  one  hundred  and  nine  negroes,  were  re- 
ported from  this  State. ^  Twenty-eight  years  after  this 
the  Virginia  Conference,  of  which  North  Carolina  was  a 
part,  had  thirty-five  thousand,  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  members.^  In  1838,  the  year  after  the  formation  of 
the  North  Carolina  Conference,  there  were  reported  from 

1.  Catalogues,  188&-1897. 

2.  Prof.  Woody's  book  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library. 

3.  Guilford  Collegian,  April,  1897,  pp.  238-241. 

4.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  p.  92. 

5.  Ibid,  Vol,  I.,  p.  558. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  175 

this  Conference  nineteen  thousand,  two  hundred  and 
eight  members  ;^  and  at  the  same  time  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  State  belonged  to  the  Virginia  Conference  ; 
the  southwestern,  to  the  South  Carolina  Conference; 
the  western,  to  the  Holston  Conference.  Since  that  time 
Methodism  has  had  a  rapid  growth.  The  North  Caro- 
lina Conference,  which  embraces  the  eastern  half  of  the 
State,  now  has  a  membership  of  sixty-five  thousand,  five 
hundred  and  fifty-four ;  2  and  the  Western  North  Caro- 
lina Conference  has  sixty-eight  thousand,  seven  hundred 
and  sixteen. 3 

In  1838  there  were  no  institutions  of  learning  to  aid 
the  church.  Now  there  are  within  both  conferences 
Trinity  College,  Greensboro  Female  College,  Weaver- 
ville  College,  Davenporfc  College,  Littleton  Female  Col- 
lege, and  Louisburg  Female  College;  and  the  high 
schools  of  Trinity,  Burlington  and  Jonesboro.*  Several 
of  these  schools  do  not  belong  to  the  church  ;  they  are 
only  under  its  protection.  Each  conference  annually 
assesses  its  membership  five  thousand  dollars  for  educa- 
tional purposes.^  Trinity  College  alone  receives  funds 
from  both  conferences.  The  whole  of  the  five  thousand 
assessed  by  the  North  Carolina  Conference  is  for  Trinity 
College.  In  the  Western  Conference  this  amount  is  dis- 
tributed as  follows:  Trinity  College,  $2,900;  Weaver- 
ville  College,  $1,500;  Trinity  High  School,  $300;  Gen- 
eral Board  of  Education,  $300. «  Since  1856  Trinity 
College  has  played  a  great  part  in  the  growth  of  the 
Methodist  Church  ;  it  has  been  to  this  denomination 
what  Wake  Forest  and  Davidson  have  been  to  the  Bap- 
tists and  Presbyterians.  Too,  it  has  taken  a  high  place 
in  our  social,  educational  and  political  life. 

1.  Minutes  of  the  General  Conferences,  Vol.  II..  p.  525. 

2.  Minutes  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  1897.  p.  22. 

3.  Minutes  of  the  Western  North  Carolina  Conference,  1897.  p.  22. 

4.  Ibid,  pp.  :34-.35;  Minutes  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  1897,  p.  45-46. 
.^.  Ibid,  p.  23;  Ibid,  p.  45. 

6.    Ibid,  p.  34. 


176  THE  CHURCH  A.ND  PRIVATE 

It  had  its  beginning  in  1838,  though  under  the  name 
of  Union  Institute.  It  was  first  established,  and  re- 
mained until  1892,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Randolph 
county,  about  five  miles  to  the  south  of  High  Point. 
Many  prominent  families  lived  in  this  section — the 
Grays,  Harpers,  Leaches,  Hogans,  Browns,  Johnsons, 
Mendenhalls,  Englishes,  Tomlinsons  and  others. ^  On 
the  north  were  Quakers;  and  on  the  south,  Methodists. 
From  the  union  of  these  came  the  name  of  the  institute. 
The  first  school  out  of  which  Trinity  grew  was  begun  by 
Rev.  Brandtly  York,  D.  D.,  in  1838.  He  at  first  taught 
a  common  school  at  Brown  School-house,  an  old  dilapi- 
dated log  structure,  about  16x20  feet.  This  was  located 
almost  a  mile  southwest  of  the  present  site.  In  tlie  sum- 
mer of  1838  his  patrons  built  a  new  log  house,  24x36 
feet,  a  few  yards  northeast  of  the  place  where  the  college 
building  was  afterwards  erected.  When  his  school  of 
about  fifty  pupils,  girls  and  boys,  moved  into  the  new 
quarters,  about  August  12th,  the  name  of  Union  Insti- 
tute was  adopted, 2 

The  school  at  once  became  prosperous,  and  in  a  short 
while  there  was  need  of  more  room.  By  1840  another 
building  was  ready  for  use.  It  was  a  framed  house, 
30x65  feet,  and  divided  into  two  rooms.  Soon  after  the 
erection  of  this  structure  there  came  about  a  disposition 
on  the  part  of  the  Methodist  children  to  make  fun  of  the 
Quaker  "thee"  and  "thou,"  in  consequence  of  w^iich 
the  most  of  the  Friends  withdrew  their  girls  and  boys. 
This  brought  about  a  great  decrease  in  the  patronage. 
Dr.  York's  health  had  been  poor  for  some  time.  The 
decrease  of  prosperity  and  his  poor  health  caused  him  to 
resign  in  1842.      The  school  had  made  a  beginning  and, 


1.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodisii>  in  North  Carolina,  p.  179. 

2.  Hon.  W.  M.  Robbins  on  Trinity  College— Its  Antecedents— Early  Days— Found- 
ers, clipping  in  Trinity  College  Historical  Museum,  from  Raleigh  Christian  Advo- 
cate, published  soon  after  his  death;  Rev.  B.  A.  York,  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate, 
August  30, 1893. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  177 

though  Dr.  York  retired  at  this  early  period,  it  had  been 
a  decided  success.^  Rev.  Baxton  Craven,  who  had  been  an 
assistant  for  a  short  while ,  became  principal  immediately 
upon  Dr.  York's  resignation  ;  and  he  it  was  who  brought 
about  those  great  changes  and  guided  the  destiny  of  the 
institution  for  forty  years. ^  Dr.  York  was  a  pioneer  in 
education.  He  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  North 
Carolina,  January  3rd,  1805,  died  October  7th,  1891; 
educated  himself  in  English  Grammar,  Rhetoric,  Logic, 
Moral  and  Mental  Philosophy,  Latin,  Greek  and  Mathe- 
matics ;  ordained  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church  in 
1837  ;  principal  of  Clemmousville  High  School,  Davidson 
county,  1842-46;  Olin,  1851-56 ;  York  Institute,  Alex- 
ander county,  1856  till  the  war  broke  it  up;  Ruffin 
Badger  Institute,  Chatham  county,  1869-73  ;  professor 
of  Logic  and  Rhetoric  in  Rutherford  College,  1873  ;  New 
Salem  and  Randleman  High  School,  1881-85;  traveler 
and  lecturer  in  North  and  South  Carolina,  Virginia  and 
Arkansas  ;  teacher  for  about  seventy  years  and  preacher 
for  sixty  ;  instructed  fifteen  thousand  pupils,  preached 
five  thousand  sermons  and  delivered  three  thousand 
lectures;  blind  for  about  forty  years. ^ 

The  first  year  that  Mr.  Craven  taught  he  was  guaran- 
teed two  hundred  dollars,  and  as  much  more  as  he  could 
make  from  the  school.  He  did  not  have  a  regular  assist- 
ant for  some  time  ;  some  of  the  best  pupils  in  the  higher 
classes  often  aided  him  in  the  lower  class  work.  During 
the  period  1843-1850  from  twenty-eight  to  one  hundred 
and   eighty-four    students    matriculated    annually,    the 

1.  Hon.  W.  M.  Robbins  on  Trinity  College — Its  Antecedents— Early  Days— Found- 
ers, clipping  in  Trinity  College  Historical  Museum,  from  Raleigh  Christian  Advo- 
cate, published  soon  after  his  death ;  Rev.  B.  A.  York,  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate, 
August  30, 1893;  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  180;  Dowd's  Life  of 
Braxton  Craven,  p.  41. 

2.  Dowd's  Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  p.  113. 

3.  Rev.  B.  A.  York,  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate,  August  23  and  30. 1893 ;  Autobio- 
graphy of  Dr.  York  in  manuscript;  Rev.  M.  H.  Hoyle,  The  Western  North  Carolina 
Methodist,  January  9, 1892. 


178  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

general  average  being  about  one  hundred.  The  income 
of  this  period  was  from  $300  to  $1,800  a  year  ;  and  at  the 
same  time  about  $224  were  given  annually  to  indigent 
students.  The  standing  of  the  academy  was  high,  and 
its  pupils  came  from  many  sections  of  the  Carolinas  and 
Virginia.  Mr.  Craven  was  but  tw^enty  years  of  age  when 
he  assumed  the  principalship  ;  and  as  he  grew  in  mental 
strength,  his  school  became  larger  and  more  effective. 
In  January,  1851,  it  was  rechartered  under  the  name  of 
Normal  College  and  begun  its  second  era.  During  the 
first  twelve  years  of  its  existence  it  had  grown  from  a 
little  common  school  to  a  first  class  academy.  At  the 
beginning  of  this  new  era,  it  had  a  small  library  and 
two  literary  societies — Columbian  (1846)  and  Hesperian 
(1850).i 

In  1845  the  following  subjects  were  in  the  course  : 
English  Grammar,  Composition,  Elocution,  Rhetoric, 
Logic,  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy,  Arithmetic,  Alge- 
bra, Geometry,  Surveying,  Mensuration,  Analytical 
Geometry,  Natural  Philosophy,  Astronomy,  Latin  and 
Greek  Grammar,  Latin  and  Greek  Authors,  Botany, 
Chemistry,  Geology,  Geography,  and  Anatomy.  The 
terms  of  those  days  were  very  low  :  tuition  per  session 
$5  ;  board  and  washing  per  month  $4.50  ;  a  few  other 
small  items  of  expense. ^  All  of  the  above  subjects  w^ere 
taught  by  Mr.  Craven  ;  and  he  was  at  the  same  time 
doing  advanced  work  as  a  student  in  Greek,  Latin, 
Hebrew,  History,  Political  Economy,  and  several  other 
branches.^  In  1850  he  went  to  Randolph-Macon  College 
and  stood  examinations  on  the  whole  course  of  studies 

1.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  180-181;  Dowd's 
Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  pp.  42,  43,  52,53 ;  Hon.  W.  M.  Rohhins, 

2.  Greensboro  Patriot,  February  28th,  1845. 

3.  Dowd's  Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  p.  55. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  I79 

of  that  institution,  and  obtained  the  A.  B.  degree;  A. 
M.  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1851 ;  D. 
D.  from  Andrew  College,  Tennessee,  and  LL.  D.  from 
the  University  of  Missouri ;  born  August  26th,  1822,  and 
died  November  7th,  1882. 1 

At  the  North  Carolina  Conference  of  1851  the  first 
connection  between  the  church  and  school  was  made, 
though  this  was  not  at  all  close.  The  school  ran  its  own 
affairs  and  supported  itself,  while  the  Conference  en- 
dorsed it  and  appointed  a  visiting  committee  for  the 
same.  The  normal  feature  was  a  failure  in  the  end. 
During  its  continuance  (until  1859)  many  students  took 
tliis  course  only  and  went  out  known  as  graduates  of  the 
college,  though  in  reality  they  had  had  but  a  short  com- 
mon and  high  school  training.  However,  this  plan 
brought  temporary  assistance  in  the  way  of  a  loan  from 
the  literary  fund  of  the  State.  In  1853  the  charter  to 
Normal  College  was  amended,  and  the  institution  was 
given  power  to  confer  degrees  and  to  perform  all  other 
acts  usually  granted  to  such  schools.  Section  9  of  this 
amended  charter  is:  "Be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 
President  and  Directors  of  the  Literary  Fund  are  hereby 
directed  to  loan  to  the  Trustees  of  Trinity  College  the 
sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  out  of  any  money  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  at  six  per  cent,  interest,  to  be 
paid  semi-annually,  upon  said  Trustees  giving  bond  and 
good  security  for  the  same."  For  some  time  it  seemed 
that  the  proper  security  could  not  be  obtained.  Hon. 
John  A.  Gilmer,  of  Greensboro,  then  a  trustee,  came  to 
the  rescue  of  President  Craven,  and  the  money  was  se- 
cured. By  means  of  this  fund  the  first  brick  building, 
now  known  as  the  old  part,  was  erected. ^ 

1.  Dowd's  Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  pp.  .>5,  -56,  125;  North  Carolina  Sermons,  Vol. 
II.,  p.  12;  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  289. 

2.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism,  pp.  181-18,3;   Dowd's  Life  of  Braxton 
Craven,  pp.  56-57;  Catalogue,  1806-1887,  copy  of  amended  charter. 


180  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

From  this  on  the  institution  prospered  more  and  more 
each  year.  The  first  graduating  class  was  in  1853,  and 
was  composed  of  D.  C.  and  L.  Johnson. ^  The  faculty 
consisted  of  from  four  to  six  members. ^  The  average 
matriculation  from  1853  to  1857  was  one  hundred  and 
eighty-seven;  and  the  annual  income  was  about  $5,000, 
with  $450  given  to  poor  students.  In  1858  the  trustees 
gave  over  the  property,  w^orth  about  $30,000,  to  the 
North  Carolina  Conference.  By  the  legislature  of  the 
next  year  the  college  was  entirely  vested  in  the  Confer- 
ence and  its  name  was  changed  to  Trinity.  With  this 
transfer  of  property  and  change  of  name  the  normal 
feature  came  to  an  end,  and  the  Governor  of  the  State 
was  no  longer  ex  officio  president  of  the  trustees.^ 

The  institution  had  become  denominational,  but  for 
a  long  time  after  this  the  church  gave  no  financial  as- 
sistance. Dr.  Craven  gave  his  school  to  the  Conference 
and  his  great  life  to  the  Methodists  of  North  Carolina, 
but  they  have  been  very  slow  to  return  value  for  value. 
The  truth  is,  that  the  Methodist  Church  of  this  State 
has  never  stood  square  by  its  institutions  of  learning. 
It  has  stood  still  and  allowed  its  greatest  character  to 
kill  himself;  and  several  times  its  noblest  institution 
has  almost  fallen  from  the  lack  of  appreciation  and 
loyalty.  Dr.  Craven  might  easily  have  made  himself 
rich  from  Trinity  College  as  a  private  school.  His  soul 
w^as  too  large  for  such  selfishness  ;  he  gave  forty  of  his 
best  years,  his  money  and  all  of  that  rare  and  rich  per- 
sonality, the  supei'ior  of  which  this  State  has  never  pro- 
duced. He  is  one  of  the  few  immortal  names  in  our 
whole  educational  history. 

From  1859  to  1862  the  college  was  at  its  highest  point 


1.  Catalogue,  1896-1897,  p.  109. 

2.  Catalogues,  18-54-1859. 

3.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  184;   Dowd,  pp. 
62-63. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  Cm^majii^.H\^y^         181 


of  prosperity.  The  matriculations  each  of  these  years 
averaged  two  hundred  and  four.  The  income  amounted 
to  $7,500,  besides  the  losses  and  gifts  to  poor  boys. 
Everything  seemed  favorable  for  an  endowment  fund 
and  a  far  greater  life  to  the  institution.  The  committee, 
appointed  by  the  Conference  in  1858  to  secure  funds 
with  which  to  erect  another  building,  had  obtained  in 
subscriptions  $15,000.  They  were  about  ready  to  build 
another  brick  structure  of  the  same  size  as  the  first,  but 
the  war  came  on  and  put  a  stop  to  improvement  and 
almost  to  life  itself.  ^  The  faculty  of  1860-1861  was  :  B. 
Craven,  D.  D.,  president,  Metaphysics,  Rhetoric,  Logic; 
Lemuel  Johnson,  A.  M.,  Mathematics;  W.  T.  Gauna- 
way,  A.  M.,  Latin,  Greek  ;  L  L.  Wright,  A.  M.,  Natural 
Science,  Modern  History;  O.  W.  Carr,  A.  B.,  tutor  of 
Greek  and  English  Literature;  L.  W.  Andrews,  A.  B., 
tutor  of  Mathematics. 2  These  were  doing  fine  work,  and 
Trinity  College  was  taking  a  high  rank  among  Southern 
schools.  Four  years  were  required  for  graduation  after 
entering  the  freshman  class  ;  and  to  enter  this  one  had 
to  stand  on  Arithmetic,  English  Grammar,  Latin  Gram- 
mar and  Reader,  Csesar,  Ovid,  Vergil's  Bucolics  and  six 
books  of  the  Aeneid,  Greek  Grammar  and  Reader  (or 
Graeca  Minora) ,  St.  John's  Gospel  in  the  Greek  Testa- 
ment, xAncient  and  Modern  Geography,  Algebra  to  equa- 
tions of  the  second  degree.^ 

In  1863,  Dr.  Craven  resigned  the  presidency  and  was 
pastor  of  Edenton  Street  Church  in  Raleigh  for  two 
years.  Prof.  Gannaway  was  president  pro  tcm  during 
this  time.  The  college  exercises  were  kept  up,  though 
with  but  few  students,  until  April,  1865,  when  Gen. 
Hardee's  troops  encamped  near  by.^     With  the  excep- 


1.  Dr.  Craven.  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  185:  Dowd.  p.  63: 
Kalei^h  Christian  Advocate.  Feb.  22nd,l>«i2.  reprint  from  Trinitv  College  Herald. 

2.  Catalogue,  186(t-1861. 

3.  Ibid. 

4.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  1*J. 


182  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

tion  of  Dr.  Craven,  the  faculty  was  not  diminished 
through  those  gloomy  years.  There  was  but  one  grad- 
uate in  1864 — E.  H.  Tapscott,  and  none  in  1865. ^  Dur- 
ing this  period  about  twenty  young  ladies  matriculated  ; 
and  this  was  a  pleasant  and  profitable  innovation. 
Those  were  indeed  trying  days  ;  they  tested  the  college 
in  a  severe  way.^  In  this  connection  the  long  and 
faithful  services  of  Prof.  Gannaway  deserve  considera- 
tion. When  he  retired  from  the  faculty  in  June,  1892, 
he  had  been  with  the  institution  for  thirty-five  years,  the 
longest  period  of  service,  with  the  exception  of  that  of 
Dr.  Craven,  in  its  whole  history.  He  was  born  in  Wythe 
county,  Virginia,  June  10th,  1825;  entered  Emory  and 
Henry  College  in  1840  and  graduated  in  1845  ;  took  A. 
M.  from  his  Alma  Mater  in  1852  ;  principal  of  Floyd  In- 
stitute, Virginia,  1845-1854  ;  principal  of  Masonic  Insti- 
tute at  German  ton.  North  Carolina,  1854-1857;  in 
Trinity  College,  Greek  and  Philosophy  1857-58,  Greek 
and  Latin  1858-63,  Greek,  Latin  and  French  1863-66, 
Greek  and  Latin  1866-70,  Latin  and  History  1870-83, 
Latin,  History  and  French  1883-86,  Latin  1886-92. ^ 
He  still  lives  at  Trinity,  North  Carolina;  and  is  the 
same  gentleman  and  scholar  that  he  has  ever  been. 

During  the  fall  of  1865  Dr.  Craven  was  again  elected 
president.  The  school  reopened  in  January,  1866.  The 
numbers  at  first  were  small,  but  the  prospects  brightened 
each  year.  The  college  was  now  in  good  financial  cir- 
cumstances, the  debt  to  the  literary  board  having  been 
paid  by  Dr.  Craven  individually.  The  patronage  in- 
creased rapidly,  until  there  were  matriculated  over  two 
hundred  boys  in  1870.  During  the  period  1866-1876 
there  was  an  annual  average  of  one   hundred  and   fifty- 


1.  Catalogue,  18S>6-1897,  p.  ni;  Prof.  Gannaway,  Trinity  Archive,  May,  189-},  pp. 
S24-330. 

2.  Prof.  Gannaway,  Trinity  Archive,  May,  1893,  pp.  324-330. 

3.  Prof.  Gannaway,  Autobiography,  Trinity  Archive,  April,  1893,  pp.  277-280. 


f 
SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  183 

six  ;  and  the  income  was  about  $6,000  a  year.^  In  1871 
there  was  a  great  demand  for  more  room,  and  $10,000 
were  asked  from  the  Conference  of  this  year.  The 
church  agreed  to  raise  the  amount,  and  upon  the  promise 
Dr.  Craven  began  to  erect  the  Chapel.  It  was  ready  for 
use  by  June,  1875.  When  completed  it  hud  cost  $14,000. 
The  amounts  collected  from  the  ten  thousand  dollar  sub- 
scriptions w^ere  less  than  $3,000;  and  in  1877  the  debt 
on  the  building  was  $9,725.  This  was  a  great  burden 
upon  the  president  to  the  hour  of  his  death. ^ 

Dr.  Craven,  in  his  address  to  the  Conference  of  1876 
at  Raleigh,  made  the  following  statement:  "From  the 
first,  a  period  of  thirty-four  years,  the  statistics  are  as 
follows  :  losses,  six  thousand  and  sixty  dollars  ;  gratui- 
tous tuition,  eleven  thousand  three  hundred  dollars; 
deaths  at  college,  thirteen  ;  expulsions,  twenty-five  ;  con- 
versions, eleven  hundred  and  fifty-seven.  The  whole 
number  of  graduates  is  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight ; 
of  these  seventy-eight  have  received  A.  M.  ;  thirty-four 
are  lawyers;  physicians,  thirteen;  preachers,  twenty- 
eight;  teachers  and  professors  in  colleges,  twenty-five. 

Fifteen  of  the  graduates  are  mem- 
bers of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  and  thirty-six, 
being  one-fifth  of  the  whole  Conference,  w^ere  educated 
in  whole  or  in  part  at  Trinity. "^  To  these  remarkable 
statements  may  be  added  that  the  institution  w^as  then 
worth  as  much  as  $40,000,  of  which  amount  $30,000  had 
been  made  from  the  receipts  of  tuition.'* 

For  several  years  before  Dr.  Craven's  death  the  patron- 
age was  becoming  small.  In  1878-79  there  were  matric- 
ulated 114;  in  1879-80,  101;  in  1880-81,  117,  and  dur- 


1.  Dr.  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  186;  Dowd,  pp. 
(MMJT. 

2.  Dowd's  Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  pp.  68-69. 

3.  '  Dr,  Craven,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  186-187. 

4.  Ibid,  p.  188. 


184  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

ing  1882-83,  the  year  after  bis  death,  100.^  It  seemed 
that  he  had  lost  his  hold  on  the  church  to  a  great  extent. 
He  had  stood  and  fought  like  a  hero  for  almost  forty 
years,  but  now  he  saw  his  own  dear  institution  on  the 
decline.  The  heavy  debt  incurred  in  erecting  the  chapel 
bore  heavily  upon  his  shoulders;  and  too,  many  of  the 
strongest  members  of  his  church  were  fighting  instead  of 
assisting  him.  He  had  either  made  a  serious  mistake, 
or  his  fellow-churchmen  were  very  jealous  of  his  noble 
work  and  influence.  It  has  been  said  that  he  was  by  far 
too  ambitious  for  a  bishopric,  and  consequently  made 
enemies  out  of  many  of  his  once  strongest  friends.  There 
is  much  of  truth  in  this  accusation.  But  if  it  were  en- 
tirely true,  it  would  be  no  excuse  for  such  cold-blooded 
action  on  the  part  of  his  fellow-churchmen.  He  had 
done  them  a  service,  the  like  of  which  this  country  has 
rarely  seen  ;  and  still  they  opposed  him  on  every  side. 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Craven,  November  7th,  1882, 
Prof.  W.  H.  Pegram  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
faculty  ;  and  he  held  this  position  during  the  year  1882- 
1883.  In  this  connection  Prof.  Pegram 's  long  and  loyal 
services  to  the  institution  deserve  mentioning.  He 
graduated  at  Trinity  College  in  1873  ;  tutor  in  Natural 
Sciences  1873-75  ;  professor  in  the  department  of  Natu- 
ral Sciences  from  1875  to  the  present. ^  At  the  com- 
mencement of  1883  Rev.  Marquis  Lafayette  Wood,  D- 
D.,  was  elected  president,  but  he  held  this  position  only 
a  little  more  than  one  year.  He  was  born  in  Randolph 
county.  North  Carolina,  October  23rd,  1829;  graduated 
at  Normal  College  in  1855  ;  joined  the  North  Carolina 
Conference  the  same  year  ;  missionary  to  China  1860— 
1866  ;  given  D.  D.  by  Rutherford  College  and  the  Univer- 
sity of  North  Carolina  in   1884;  died   November   25th, 


1.  Catalogues,  1878-1883. 

2.  Catalogues,  1873-1897;   Trinity  Archive,  October,  1894,  p.  39;    .Manuscript  oi 
Prof.  J.  F.  Heitman. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  185 

1893.*  When  he  beganjiis  administration,  the  college 
was  in  a  bad  condition  in  many  ways.  There  was  no 
money,  and  general  demoralization  prevailed.  The  first 
year  under  him  opened  with  about  sixty  boys,  and  there 
were  eighty  at  the  beginning  of  his  second  year.  He 
was  not  by  any  means  able  to  pay  his  faculty  in  full. 
The  Conference  had  promised  the  institution  $2,500  for 
1883-1884,  but  only  about  $800  of  this  were  collected. 
He  had  been  in  pastoral  duties  so  long  that  the  rigid 
work  of  attending  to  the  affairs  of  a  college,  especially 
when  it  was  in  such  a  deplorable  condition  as  Trinity 
then  was,  was  not  attractive  to  him  ;  and  he  resigned  at 
the  Conference  of  1884. ^ 

The  financial  condition  of  the  ten  years  from  1875  to 
1885  is  shown  by  the  following  figures  : 

tacrprlt^?or^'  Actually  Paid.       Annual  Deficit. 

18Tr)-76 $1.000 $550.47 $449.53 

1876-77 1,000 525.15 474.85 

1877-78 1,000 415.99 584.01 

1878-79 1,000 394.61 605.39 

1879-80 1,000 398.54 601.46 

1880-81 1,000 304.15 695.85 

1881-82 1,000 231,83 778.17 

1882-83 1,000 572.30 427.70 

1883-84 1,000 500.00 500,00 

1884,  fall  term,  i  year. . . .      500 350.00  150.00 

3 

President  Crowell,  in  speaking  of  the  above  figures, 
says:  "In  these  nine  and  a  half  years  each  professor, 
salaried  at  $1,000,  left  in  the  college  $5,366.96;  four 
professors  have  virtually  given  to  Trinity  College  in  this 
time  the  total  amount  of  $21,067.84,  or  an  annual  gift 
from  each  professor  of  $554.41.  The  faculty  has  given 
more  to  Trinity  in  these  nine  and  a  half  years  than  the 
Conference  probably  ever  has.  In  short,  it  is  plain  that 
a  small  faculty  has  been  for  several  years  really  main- 

1.  Journal  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  18i»3,  pp.  4.3-46;  General  Catalogue 
of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  242. 

2.  Prof.  Heitman's  Manuscript. 

3.  President  CrowelTs  Report  to  the  North  Carolina  Conference  of  1888,  pp.  28-29. 


186  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

taining  a  college  belonging  to  a  Conference  of  82,000 
people.  This  college  could  never  have  been  carried  on 
had  these  men  left  upon  finding  out  that  their  salaries 
were  not  to  be  paid.  They  remained  for  their  loyalty  to 
the  church-college  ;  they  sacrificed  their  independence  ; 
involved  themselves  frequently  because  of  the  uncer- 
tainty of  income.  They  gave,  and  gave,  and  gave  more 
than  all  others  put  together.  Their  debts  were  not  paid 
by  the  lapse  of  a  year,  yet  the  Conference  never  expects 
to  pay  this  enormous  arrearage  in  salaries.  Certainly 
no  other  institution  of  the  church  which  every  member, 
lay  and  clerical,  vows  to  support  has  met  with  such  ex- 
periences as  her  highest  educational  institution — Trinity 
College."  1 

At  the  Conference  of  1884  the  college  was  given  up  to 
a  committee,  composed  of  J.  W.  Alspaugh,  J.  S.  Carr 
and  J.  A.  Gray.  These  generous  men  offered  to  pay  into 
the  institution  $2,500  a  year  for  two  years,  on  the  condi- 
tion that  the  Conference  would  raise  the  same  amount. 
The  proposition  was  accepted  and  the  committee  took 
charge  at  once.  Dr.  Wood  retired  as  president  at  the 
close  of  the  fall  term  of  1884.  Rev.  John  Franklin 
Heitman  was  elected  chairman  of  the  faculty,  and  he 
acted  in  this  capacity  until  June,  1887.  He  was  born  in 
Davidson  county,  North  Carolina,  April  17th,  1840; 
student  in  Trinity  College  1861-62  ;  in  the  army  1862- 
65 ;  graduated  from  Trinity  College  in  1868 ;  princi- 
pal of  the  Kernersville  High  School  1868-69  ;  became  a 
member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  in  1869  ;  pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  German,  German  and  Metaphysics, 
Greek  and  Metaphysics,  Metaphysics  and  Theology  in 
Trinity  College  1883-91  ;  headmaster  of  Trinity  High 
School  1891-95.2 


1.  President  CroweU's  Report  to  the  North  Carolina  Conference  of  ]b88,  pp.  28-29. 

2.  Prof.  Heitman,  Autobiograpliy.  The  Carolina  Wesleyan,  Januar.v  1st,  1892. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  187 

His  chairmanship  brought  about  good  though  quiet 
results.  At  the  beginning  the  faculty  was  increased  by 
A.  W.  Long,  A.  B.,  and  H.  H.  Williams,  A.  M.  Mr. 
Long  was  the  first  regular  professor  of  English  the  col- 
lege ever  had  ;  until  that  time  the  work  in  English  had 
been  distributed  among  |he  professors  of  other  depart- 
ments. During  the  two  years  which  the  committee 
had  charge  and  managed  affairs  through  Prof.  Heitman 
$1,000  were  spent  in  repairs  and  the  faculty  were  paid  in 
full ;  and  this  had  been  done  but  few  times,  if  ever,  in 
the  history  of  the  institution.  The  $2,500  promised 
from  the  Conference  was  by  no  means  collected  in  full 
either  year,  still  the  committee  stood  by  their  promise 
and  gave  to  the  college  $5,000.  By  their  timely  and 
generous  assistance  they  saved  its  life.  When  they  gave 
it  back  to  the  Conference  of  1886,  it  was  in  a  far  better 
shape  than  when  they  assumed  its  control.^  They  had 
shown  to  the  church  that  with  a  little  money  Trinity 
College  could  live  and  prosper,  though  its  great  founder 
was  dead.  Prof.  Heitman,  by  his  rigid  economy  and 
close  attention  to  business,  had  performed  a  great  service. 
He  took  hold  at  a  time  when  the  old  college  had  almost 
fallen  and  enemies  were  fighting  on  every  side ;  and 
through  it  all  he  stood  firm  and  discharged  his  duty. 
At  the  Conference  of  1886,  Rev.  S.  B.  Jones,  D.  D.,  of 
South  Carolina,  was  elected  president.  He,  however, 
did  not  accej)t ;  and  the  management  again  fell  upon 
Prof.  Heitman.  In  June,  1887,  Rev.  J.  F.  Crowell,  A. 
B.,  was  inaugurated  as  president  and  the  new  regime 
began.  ^ 

Prof.  Crowell  wad  but  twenty-eight  years  of  age  when 
he  assumed  control  of  the  college,  still  was  full  of  energy 

1.  Manuscript  of  Prof.  Heitman ;  Journals  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference, 
1S84-1886. 

2.  Catalogue,  1887-1888;  Manuscript  of  Prof.  Heitman;  The  Carolina  Wesleyan' 
January  1st,  1882. 


188  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

aud  of  these  methods  of  school  work.  He  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania;  a  regular  A.  B.  graduate  of  Yale 
University,  and  two  years  a  post-graduate  in  the  same.^ 
He  entered  into  the  work  with  an  enthusiasm  that  over- 
came all  obstacles.  The  institution  was  still  in  poor 
financial  circumstances.  There  was  at  the  time  of  his 
election  practically  no  endowment  fund,  the  gift  of  $3,000 
made  by  Dr.  Siddell  in  1883  having  been  used  for  other 
than  endowment  purposes  ;  and  the  Conference  collec- 
tion for  the  year  1887  was  only  $2,241.26.2  At  the 
special  meeting  of  the  trustees,  April  5th,  1887,  at  which 
Prof.  Crowell  was  elected  president,  Mr.  J.  S.  Carr  gave 
$10,000  for  this  fund.  During  the  next  year  this  amount 
was  increased  to  $25,000  more.  The  Centenary  Church 
of  Winston  became  responsible  for  the  president's  salary, 
$1,800  per  year  for  the  first  three  years  of  his  adminis- 
tration ;  and  the  Winston  Chair  of  Political  and  Social 
Science  was  designated  from  this  gift.  In  1889  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Avera  gave  property  worth  about  $2,500  to  establish 
a  department  of  Biblical  Literature  in  honor  of  her  hus- 
band.^ 

The  requirements  for  entrance  examinations  were 
raised  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  these  examinations 
were  exacted  of  every  matriculate.  The  whole  course  of 
studies  began  an  expansion.  A  larger  and  far  more  en- 
thusiastic faculty  constituted  the  teaching  force.  In 
1891-1892  there  were  in  active  service  eleven  full  pro- 
fessors (including  the  president)  and  five  instructors. 
This  was  by  far  the  largest  and  strongest  faculty  the 
college  had  ever  had ;  and  it  has  never  been  so  large 
since.  During  the  first  two  years  of  President  CrowelFs 
term  of  office  almost  a  revolution  had  been  brought 
about :  a  new  life  had  been  infused  into  the  old  institu- 


1.  The  North  Carolina  Teacher.  October,  1887. 

2.  Journal  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  1887,  p.  53. 

8.    Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell,  Northampton,  Massachusetts;  Catalogues,  1887-1890. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  189 

tion  and  its  surroundings ;  the  curriculum  had  been 
modernized  and  deepened ;  standards  of  scholarship 
changed  and  raised  ;  patronage  increased  and  many  new 
friends  made.  It  now  seemed  best  to  move  the  college 
to  some  live  town  for  purposes  of  mutual  benefits. 
Raleigh  oifered  $35,000  in  cash  and  a  site.  At  the  Con- 
ference of  1889,  at  Greensboro,  a  resolution  to  accept  the 
offer  of  Raleigh  was  made  ;  and  after  a  great  discussion , 
in  which  Dr.Crowell  (Litt.  D.  from  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  June,  1889,)  was  the  controlling  force,  the 
resolution  passed  by  a  vote  of  143  yeas  and  41  nays.  A 
committee,  consisting  of  Walter  Clark,  J.  F.  Crowell 
and  J.  W.  Mauney,  was  appointed  by  this  Conference  to 
secure  legislation  in  reference  to  moving  the  institution.  ^ 

Soon  after  this  action  Mr.  Washington  Duke  proposed 
to  Rev.  E.  A.  Yates,  D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  Trinity 
Church,  Durham,  North  Carolina,  that  in  case  Raleigh 
failed  to  make  good  her  promises  he  would  give  $35,000 
for  a  building  and  $50,000  on  the  endowment,  if  Trinity 
College  would  move  to  Durham.  When  the  citizens  of 
Raleigh  heard  of  Mr.  Duke's  proposition,  they  decided 
to  release  the  college  authorities  from  their  contract. 
Then  Mr.  J.  S.  Carr,  the  great  philanthropist  of  many 
noble  causes,  offered  to  give  a  tract  of  sixty-two  and  one- 
half  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $25,000.  Other  citizens  of 
Durham  subscribed  several  thousand  dollars.  These 
offers  were  accepted,  and  the  college  was  located  about 
one  mile  west  of  the  thriving  little  city  of  Durham.  In 
this  connection  Rev.  R.  F.  Bumpass,  the  pastor  of  Main 
Street  Church,  Durham,  should  be  mentioned  as  having 
had  a  good  deal  of  influence  upon  Mr.  Duke  in  his  great 
gift.  2 

Then  began  the  building.     By  the  fall  of  1892  every- 

1.  Journal  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  1889,  pp.  25-27;  Letter  from  Dr. 
Crowell;  Catalogue.  1889-1890. 

2.  Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell ;  Catalogues,  1889-1897. 


190  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

thing  was  ready  for  occupancy  and  the  institution  was 
transferred.  This  would  have  taken  pLace  one  year 
earlier,  had  it  not  been  for  tlie  crush  of  the  great  tower 
in  the  main  building.  The  plant  when  completed  was 
among  the  very  finest  in  the  wliole  country  :  the  Main 
Building  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $85,000  ;  the  College 
Inn,  containing  seventy-five  dormitories,  chapel,  dining 
hall  and  parlors,  $34,000;  the  Teclinological  Building, 
$8,000  ;  five  residences  for  the  faculty  ;  w^ater-works  and 
electric  lights  in  all  of  the  buildings  ;  and  the  Main 
Building  and  College  Inn  heated  by  hot  air.  The  build- 
ings had  cost  about  $150,000,  the  most  of  which  had  been 
given  by  Mr.  Washington  Duke.  This  building  enter- 
prise was  the  greatest  mistake  that  Dr.  Crowell  and  the 
building  committee  ever  made.  Seventy-five  thousand 
dollars  would  have  erected  all  the  buildings  the  institu- 
tion needed,  or  will  ever  need.  Had  economy  been 
shown  here,  there  would  now  be  about  $75,000  more  in 
the  endowment  fund.  Great  empty  buildings,  with  little 
equipment  in  the  way  of  apparatus,  libraries  and  teachers, 
do  not  by  any  means  make  a  true  college.  This  mistake 
w^as  recognized  after  it  was  too  late  to  correct  it.  It 
brought  on  for  the  most  part  the  great  trouble  that  came 
to  the  insticution  during  1892-1893.1 

When  the  college  was  transferred  to  Durham,  the 
preparatory  department  remained  at  the  old  place  under 
the  guidance  of  Prof.  Heitman.  The  first  year  at  the 
new  place  opened  up  fairly  well  as  to  the  patronage,  but 
troubles  came  thick  and  fast.  The  faculty  was  cut  down 
to  twelve  members,  one  of  whom  was  Judge  A.  C.  Avery, 
who  had  a  law  class  only  twice  a  week.  During  the  fall 
term  the  salaries  were  paid  only  in  part,  a  very  small 
part  at  that.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  trustees  about 
the  middle  of  the  fall   term  President  Crowell  and  the 


1.    Letter  from  President  Crowell ;  Catalogues,  1891-1897 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.         191 

members  of  the  faculty  were  called  in  and  questioned  as 
to  the  causes  of  the  general  demoralization  and  com- 
plaint. For  some  time  the  relation  between  the  presi- 
dent and  the  faculty  had  been  very  strained,  and  in  some 
ways  unpleasant.  At  this  special  meeting  resolutions 
were  passed  in  reference  to  the  relations  of  the  officials 
of  the  institution  ;  and  H.  J.  Bass,  V.  Ballard,  W.  H. 
Branson  and  E.  J.  Parrish  were  appointed  a  finance 
committee.  This  committee  relieved  the  president  of 
all  financial  duties. ^ 

This  financial  arrangement  turned  out  well,  and  the 
salaries  were  paid  during  the  spring  term  of  1893.  The 
most  of  the  money  came  from  Mr.  B.  N.  Duke  and 
brothers-  It  was  at  this  emergency  that  Mr.  Duke 
offered  sixty  $50  scholarships.  These  gave  tuition  to 
sixty  worthy  boys  and  at  the  same  time  paid  into  the 
college  $3,000  a  year.^  Still  the  real  troubles  had  only 
been  settled  in  part ;  the  faculty  and  president  were  still 
in  bad  faith  with  each  other.  Something  was  wrong 
somewhere.  When  the  trustees  had  their  meeting  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  spring  term  of  this  year,  they 
found  aff'airs  in  a  bad  condition.  They  then  began  to 
open  their  eyes  ;  before  this  most  of  them  had  looked  at 
college  affairs  from  a  distance.  It  had  come  to  the  point 
that  the  president  or  the  faculty  must  resign.  The  presi- 
dent of  the  trustees  asked  Dr.  Crowell  to  hand  in  his 
resignation.  He,  however,  was  given  the  opportunity 
of  defending  himself  before  them.  At  the  close  of  his 
defense,  they  voted  to  give  him  another  year  as  an  ex- 
periment. When  this  news  was  made  known,  J.  M. 
Bandy,  F.  E.  Welch,  S.  B.  Weeks,  R.  L,  Flowers,  C.  L. 
Raper  and  D.  A.  Houston,  handed  in  their  resignations  ; 
and  a  short  while  before  this  J.  M.  Steadman  and  J.  L. 


1.  Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell;  Catalogue.  1892-1893;  Resolutions  of  the  Trustees, 
fall  of  1-^92:  the  writer  was  a  member  of  the  faculty  during  this  stormy  year. 

2.  Catalogue,  1892-1898. 


192  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Armstrong  had  done  the  same  thing.  Of  this  number 
all  retired  in  June  of  that  year  except  R.  L.  Flowers, 
who  remained  professor  of  Mathematics.^ 

This  was  really  the  greatest  crisis  the  institution  ever 
had  :  the  place  was  new  and  in  some  parts  unfinished  ; 
general  demoralization  prevailed  among  some  of  the 
students;  the  new  plant  required  $10,000  a  year  for 
heat  and  light ;  the  faculty  were  not  paid,  and  in  many 
cases  their  condition  was  ignored  or  unappreciated  ;  Mr. 
Washington  Duke  had  stopped  giving ;  and  for  some 
time  it  seemed  that  the  end  had  come.  Who  was  to 
blame?  This  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  answer  in  full. 
Some  have  said  that  President  Crowell  was  the  sole  cause  ; 
others  have  said  that  the  faculty  in  having  their  irregu- 
lar meetings  and  in  rebelling  somewhat  against  the 
higher  authorities  were  the  cause.  The  truth  is  that 
neither  the  president,  faculty  nor  trustees  were  alone  to 
blame  ;  all  three  together  had  made  the  mistakes  that 
brought  on  the  crisis.  The  president  had  driven  his 
faculty  from  him  by  his  insincerity,  by  his  attempt  to 
absorb  all  the  power  into  his  own  hands  and  by  not  pay- 
ing any  attention  to  the  experience  and  requests  of  his 
colleagues.  The  faculty  were  perhaps  too  ready  to  find 
fault  and  to  talk  the  failings  of  the  college  to  the  student 
body  and  to  the  world.  The  trustees  are  to  be  blamed 
for  allowing  such  enormous  extravagance  in  building 
and  in  not  keeping  themselves  acquainted  with  their 
institution's  afi'airs  and  real  condition. 

The  wa-iter  should  hear  make  an  explanation.  He  was 
in  this  whole  scene,  and  remembers  well  those  stormy 
faculty  meetings  and  thrilling  events  of  the  year  1892- 
1893.  Personally  he  was  on  good  terms  with  President 
Crowell,  but  he  could  not  help  recognizing  a  good  many 


1.    Catalogue.  1893-1894;  Letters  from  those  who  resigned;  the  writer  as  an  eye 
witness. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.         193 

of  his  failings.  At  the  same  time  he  was  in  friendly  re- 
lations with  all  the  meral^ers  of  the  faculty,  and  still  he 
saw  that  they  went  to  extremes.  He  did  not  meet  in 
those  irregular  meetings  on  the  part  of  some  of  the 
faculty,  nor  did  he  ever  talk  about  the  administration  to 
the  students  or  the  public.  He  could  not  agree  with  the 
administration  as  he  felt  that  a  teacher  should  and  sent 
in  his  resignation.  Though  he  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
fight  and  still  has  the  faculty  and  President  Crowell  as 
his  personal  friends,  he  dares  to  make  a  free  and  frank 
statement  and  to  treat  the  whole  matter  in  a  perfectly 
fair  way. 

Dr.  Crowell  remained  president  during  the  year  1893- 
1894,  but  at  the  meeting  of  the  trustees,  May  1st,  1894, 
he  sent  in  his  resignation.  The  trustees,  however,  re- 
elected him  with  a  unanimous  vote,  but  he  saw  fit  to 
decline  this  and  retired  July  1st,  1894. ^  He  had  given 
the  college  the  seven  best  years  of  his  life.  Though  it 
had  had  many  trials  during  the  latter  part  of  his  admin- 
istration, still  he  had  done  a  greal  deal  for  the  institu- 
tion. He  had  found  it  a  small  college  and  had  placed  it 
among  the  first  institutions  of  the  land.  He  had  given 
to  the  student  body  a  zeal  for  true  scholarship  and  in- 
tellectual attainments.  He  had  given  it  a  fine  faculty  of 
specialists  ;  also  had  taken  out  of  his  own  pocket  as 
much  as  $14, 000, ^  though  a  poor  man.  His  services 
have  not  as  yet  received  their  due  consideration  and  ap- 
preciation, but  as  the  years  go  by  he  becomes  a  greater 
president  and  man.  He  made  mistakes,  many  of  which 
were  due  to  the  fact  that  he  did  not  know  the  North 
Carolina  people  ;  on  the  other  hand  he  performed  a  great 
work.     In  the  days  to  come  he  will  be  recognized  as  one 

1.  His  two  letters  to  Col,  J,  W.  Alspaugh,  published  in  The  News  and  Observer. 
May.  1894. 

1.  Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell;  Catalogue,  1887-1894;  Books  of  the  building  commit- 
tee and  treasurer. 


194  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

of  Trinity's  greatest  and  most  consecrated  leaders.  The 
church  and  trustees  owe  him  a  debt  that  they  have  made 
few  efforts  to  pay.  They  have,  however,  recognized  liim 
as  one  of  their  benefactors  by  naming  the  Technological 
Building,  erected  by  him  at  a  cost  of  $8,000,  the  Crowell 
Science  Building. ^ 

During  the  summer  of  1894  Rev.  John  Carlisle  Kilgo, 
A.  M.,  of  Wofford  College,  South  Carolina,  was  elected 
president.  He  took  hold  at  the  beginning  of  the  fall 
term  of  that  year  ;  and  still  guides  the  institution.  He 
was  born  at  Laurens,  South  Carolina,  July  22nd,  1860  ; 
student  in  Wofford  College  1880-1881,  from  which  he 
was  forced  to  leave  on  account  of  poor  eyes  ;  taught 
1882  ;  licensed  to  preach  May  27th,  1882,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in  December 
of  the  same  year;  pastor  of  the  Bennettsville  circuit, 
Timmonsville,  Rock  Hill,  Little  Rock — all  in  South  Caro- 
lina 1882-1888 ;  financial  agent  of  Wofford  College 
1888-1890  ;  professor  of  Political  Economy  and  Meta- 
physics in  Wofford  College  1890-1894 ;  A.  M.  from  Wof- 
ford 1892  ;  D.D.from  Wofford  and  Randolph-Macon  1895.  ^ 
He  entered  into  the  work  with  great  enthusiasm  and  hopes, 
and  has  done  much  to  place  the  college  on  a  better  foot- 
ing. He  is  easily  the  greatest  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  the  State,  and  by  his  great  sermons  and  ad- 
dresses has  made  a  lasting  reputation.  He  has  increased 
the  endowment  by  $100,000  ;  the  productive  fund  is  now 
$125,000  and  the  property  is  worth  $200,000. ^  He  has 
made  his  student  body  characteristic  and  loyal.  His 
fight  against  State  aid  to  higher  education  has  been  in- 
tense and  able,  though  it  seems  that  he  has  accomplished 
ver}^  little  thereby.     The  institution  is  now  coeducational. 


1.  Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell;  Catalogue,  1896-1897. 

2.  Trinity  Archive,  October,  1894,  pp.  2-8 ;  Catalogues,  1895-1897. 

ii.    Letter  from  President  Kilgo;  Journal  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference, 
22. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  195 

This  plan  was  inaugurated  by  Dr.  Crowell ;  and  it  has 
now  by  the  gift  of  $100,000,  given  by  Mr.  Washington 
Duke,  December  10th,  1896,  become  an  established 
feature.  This  gift  was  made  on  the  condition  that 
women  be  admitted  on  equal  terms  with  men.i 

The  donations  to  the  institution  during  the  last  ten 
years  have  been  large  for  Southern  schools.  The  college 
has  had  enough  given  to  it  in  this  time  to  be  in  the  best 
financial  condition  of  any  school  in  the  country.  How- 
ever, it  is  still  in  rather  poor  circumstances.  The  follow- 
ing have  been  the  main  gifts:  J.  S.  Carr,  $10,000  en- 
dowment and  land  worth  at  least  $25,000  ;  J.  F.  Crowell, 
$14,000;  Dr.  J.  A.  Cunninggim,  George  Watts,  J.  A. 
and  J.  M.  Odell,  each  $1,000  ;  W.  R.  Odell,  $500  ;  Wash- 
ington Duke,  $275,000;  B.  N.  Duke,  brothers  and  Mrs. 
R.  E.  Lyon,  $7,500  a  year  for  three  years  ;  B.  N.  Duke 
$2,550  on  Dr.  Crowell' s  salary,  salary  of  private  secre- 
tary for  some  time,  deficits  on  current  expenses,  often 
amounting  to  $7,000,  for  the  past  three  years.  There 
have  been  a  great  many  more  generous  donors.  The 
library,  which  has  about  10,000  volumes,  has  received 
a  large  number  of  small  gifts ;  so  has  the  historical 
museum.  2 

As  far  as  the  writer  can  find  out  the  faculty  of  the  col- 
lege has  been  as  follow^s  :  Rev.  Braxton  Craven,  A.  M., 
D.  D.,  1851-82;  Rev.  A.  S.  Andrews,  D.  D.,  1851-54; 
Hon.  W.  M.  Robbins,  A.  M.,  1851-54;  L.  Johnson,  A. 
M.,  tutor,  1853-55,  1855-84  ;  I.  L.  Wright,  A.  M.,  1855- 
65;  W.  T.  Gannaway,  A.  M.,  1857-92;  0.  W.  Carr,  A. 
M.,  tutor,  1855-63,  1866-78  ;  Rev.  J.  H.  Robbins,  A.  M., 
tutor,  1855-59;  Rev.  J.  H.  Speed,  A.  B.,  1856-57;  R. 
H.  Skeen,  A.  M.,  1858-60  ;  L.  W.  Andrews,  A.  M.,  tutor, 
1860-63  ;  J.W.Young,  1864-65  ;  Rev.  Peter  Doub,  D.  D., 

1.  Mr.  Duke's  letter.  The  News  and  Obser\-er,  December  11, 1896. 

2.  Let tevr  from  President  Kilgo;    Mr.  Duke's  books;   Letter  from  Dr.  Crowell; 
Catalogues,  lbS7-1897. 


196  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

1866-70;  W.  C.  Doub,  A.  M.,  1866-73;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Tucker,  A.M.,  1871-72;  Rev.  W.  H.  Pegram,  A.  M., 
tutor,  1873-75,  1875- ;  C.  P.  Frazier,  A.  B.,  asst.  pro- 
fessor, 1878-79;  J.  D.  Hodges,  A.  M.,  1879-82;  Rev.  J. 
M.  Ashby,  A.  M.,  1882-83;  Rev.  J.  F.  Heitman,  A.  M.,  1883- 
91;  Rev.  M.  L.  Wood,  D.  D.,  1883-84;  J.  A.  Elliot,  A. 
B.,  tutor,  1884-85;  N.  C.  English,  A.  M.,  1885-92;  J. 
M.  Bandy,  A.  M.,  1885-93;  H.  H.  Williams,  A.  M., 
1885-86;  A.  W.  Long,  A.  B.,  1885-87;  Dred  Peacock, 
tutor,  1886-87  ;  G.  N.  Raper,  tutor,  1886-88  ;  J.  L.  Arm- 
strong, A.  M.,  1887-93  ;  J.  H.  Hathcock,  tutor,  1887-88  ; 
William  Price,  A.  B.,  1888-89;  F.  E.  Welch,  A.  B., 
1889-93;  Rev.  L.  W.  Crawford,  A.  M.,  1890-93;  J.  S. 
Bassett,  Ph.  D.,  instructor,  1890-91,  1894- ;  J.  M.  Stead- 
man,  B.  S.,  1891-93  ;  H.  A.  Aikins,  Ph.  D.,  1891-92; 
S.  B.  Weeks,  Ph.  D.,  1891-93  ;  B.  C.  Hinde,  A.  B.,  1891- 
94;  W.  I.  Cranford,  Ph.  D.,  tutor,  1890-91,  instructor, 
1891-92,  1893- ;  W.  T.  McDowell,  A.  B.,  tutor,  1891-92; 
B.  B.  Nicholson,  Ph.  B.,  tutor,  1891-92,  1893-94;  R.  L. 
Flowers,  instructor,  1891-93,  1893- ;  Hon.  A.  C.  Avery, 
LL.  D.,  1892-93;  C.  L.  Raper,  A.  B.,  instructor,  1892- 
93;  D.  A.  Houston,  A.  B.,  instructor,  1892-93;  J.  L. 
Weber,  A.  B.,  1893-94;  E.  T.  Bynum,  A.  B.,  instructor, 
1893-94;  A.  H.  Merritt,  A.  B.,  1893- ;  Rev.  Olin  Bog- 
gess,  A.  B.,  B.  D.,  1893-95  ;  Jerome  Dowd,  1893-  ;  Edwin 
Mims,  M.  A.,  1894-;  Rev.  J.  C.  Kilgo,  A.  M.,  D.  D., 
1894-  ;  M.  H.  Arnold,  A.  M.,  1894-95  ;  M.  H.  Lockwood, 
E.  E.,  1894-97;  F.  S.  Aldridge,  tutor,  1895-96;  W.  H. 
Adams,  tutor,  1895-97;  AV.  P.  Few,  Ph.  D.,  1896-;  J. 
I.  Hamaker,  Ph.  D.,  1897- ;  P.  V.  Anderson,  C.  C. 
Weaver,  Z.  F.  Curtis,  and  S.  L.  Dent,  tutors,  1896-97.1 
The  faculty  at  present,  as  it  has  been  for  some  time,  is 
able  and  conservative.     There  are   among  its  members 


1.    Catalogues,  1851-1897 ;  W.  H.  Pegram,  Trinity  Archive,  October,  1894 ;  News  and 
Observer,  August  26, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  197 

Ph.  D.  graduates  of  Johns  Hopkins,  Yale,  Harvard  and 
Cornell,  and  students  of  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy  and 
German  Universities.  ^  The  publications  of  the  faculty 
do  not  number  many  volumes,  but  are  equal  to  those  of 
any  North  Carolina  institution.  They  are  as  follows  : 
Common  School  Grammar  by  Brandtly  York  in  1854, 
which  with  his  High  School  Grammar  has  gone  through 
four  editions  ;2  Dr.  Craven's  Revisal  of  Bullion's  English 
Grammar,  1863;  L.  Johnson,  Common  School  Arith- 
metic, 1864;  Analytical  Arithmetic  by  J.  M.  Bandy, 
1890 ;  English  Grammar  by  J.  L.  Armstrong,  1891 ; 
several  historical  works  by  S.  B.  Weeks  and  J.  S.  Bas- 
sett ;  Jerome  Dowd,  Sketches  of  Prominent  Living  North 
Carolinians,  1888,  Life  of  Braxton  Craven,  1896.3  xhe 
students  have  had  four  publications  :  The  College  Herald , 
1881-82;  Trinity  Magazine,  1883;  Trinity  Archive,  now 
in  its  12th  volume  ;  Historical  Publication ,  1897.* 

The  course  of  studies  is  as  high  as  that  of  Davidson, 
given  in  another  part  of  these  sketches.  Since  the  col- 
lege moved  to  Durham  there  has  been  no  regular  pre- 
paratory department.  However,  there  have  been  several 
classes  of  sub-freshman  work.  At  the  last  sessions  of 
the  North  Carolina  and  Western  North  Carolina  Con- 
ferences it  was  decided  to  introduce  a  preparatory  de- 
partment, beginning  w^ith  the  fall  of  1898.  For  the  past 
three  years  none  but  A.  B..and  A.  M.  degrees  have  been 
given.  Dr.  Crowell  had  brought  in  B.  S.  and  Ph.  B.  ; 
also  had  organized  a  Law  department  under  Judge  A.  C. 
Avery,  a  department  of  Theology  under  Rev.  L.  W. 
Crawford  upon  the  completion  of  w^iich  B.  D.  was  given, 
a  department  of  Civil  Engineering  with  C.  E.  degree 
under   Prof   J.   M.    Bandy.     All  three  of  these  depart- 

1.  The  News  and  Observer,  August  26, 1897. 

2.  Rev.  B.  A.  York. 

3.  Works  in  the  writer's  library;  also  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library, 

4.  Ibid. 


198  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

ments  had  an  existence  of  but  little  more  than  two  years. 
The  plan  of  President  Kilgo  has  been  to  limit  the  field 
and  intensify  the  work.  The  terms  are  very  low  in  con- 
sideration of  the  advantages  ;  $50  only  are  charged  for 
tuition  per  year.^ 

Thus  has  Trinity  College  grown,  labored  and  suffered. 
It  has  had  a  very  interesting  history,  though  it  has  not 
been  written  ;  and  this  sketch  is  by  far  too  brief.  The 
internal  history  of  the  old  college,  like  that  of  every 
school,  can  not  be  written  in  words,  but  only  in  the  lives 
and  hearts  of  those  who  have  been  connected  therewith . 
Trinity  College  has  shown  itself  in  many  an  emer- 
gency. It  has  now  a  brighter  field.  The  present  'ar- 
rangement of  having  two  full  professors  in  the  depart; 
ment  of  English  will  produce  results  as  yet  not  hoped 
for.  The  historical  work  begun  by  Dr.  Weeks  and  now 
kept  up  under  Dr.  Bassett  has  been  able  ;  and  really 
this  institution  is  among  the  pioneers  in  such  work. 
The  Historical  Society  organized  in  1892  still  becomes 
deeper  and  stronger;  and  its  collection,  known  as  the 
historical  museum,  is  becoming  large  and  valuable. ^ 

ST.  Mary's  school. 

This  has  been  one  of  the  famous  private  schools  for 
girls  of  the  State.  While  the  principals  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church,  still  the  church  had  noth- 
ing to  do  with  the  school  until  1895.  At  that  time  it 
was  made  a  Diocesan  institution. ^  The  property  w^as 
purchased  by  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina  in  May, 
1897,  at  a  cost  of  $50,000;  and  Bishop  J.  B.  Cheshire 
has  taken  the  field  to  secure  $100,000  for  an  endowment 
fund.^     It  has  had  a  long  and  interesting  existence,  and 

1.  Catalogues,  1887-1897. 

2.  Catalogues,  1891-1897. 

3.  Letter  from  Principal  Bennett  Sniedes. 

4.  The  New !»  and  Observer,  May  15, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OP  NORTH  CAROLINA.  199 

its  histor}^  deserves  to  be  written  iii  detail.  However, 
these  sketches  have  already  become  too  extensive,  and 
the  remaining  part  will  have  to  be  given  in  somewhat 
condensed  form. 

The  school  was  opened  in  1842  by  Rev.  Aldert  Smedes, 
D.  D.,  and  since  then  it  has  never  closed  its  doors.  Its 
location  is  about  one  mile  from  the  State  Capitol.  With 
an  oak  grove  of  twenty  acres  and  six  quaint  buildings, 
it  is  a  very  attractive  spot.  This  has  been  made  sacred 
by  the  great  ability  and  consecration  of  its  founder.  He 
was  its  guide  and  almost  its  very  life  for  thirty-six  years. 
He  was  great  and  conspicuous  in  his  church,  but  greater 
still  in  his  school  work.  He  has  made  St.  Mary's  a 
household  word  in  as  many  as  five  thousand  homes  all 
over  the  South;  during  the  first  fifty  years,  1842-1892, 
there  wer^  enrolled  forty-seven  hundred  and  fifty  differ- 
ent j^upils.  His  charities  were  far  greater  than  most 
people  can  or  will  give.  He  had  an  income  apart  from 
his  school,  hence  did  not  make  this  a  mere  money  mak- 
ing concern.  His  chief  aim  was  to  train  lady-like,  re- 
fined and  Christian  women. ^  He  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  April,  20th,  1810;  educated  at  Columbia  College, 
Transylvania  University,  Kentucky,  and  the  General 
Theological  Seminary  of  his  church  in  New  York  ;  as- 
sistant rector  of  Christ  Church,  New  York  City,  and 
rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  Schenectady,  New  York  ; 
D.  D.  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1854  ;2 
died  at  Raleigh,  April  25th,  1877.^ 

At  his  death  his  son  Rev.  Bennett  Smedes,  A.M.,  took 
charge,  and  he  has  run  it  to  the  present.^  His  father 
had  set  a  high  example  and  standard  to  follow,  still  the 

1.  Dr.  K.  P.  Battle's  Centennial  Address  on  Raleigh,  1892,  p.  70 ;  Dr.  Battle,  North 
Carolina  University  Magazine,  November,  1893;  Bishop  Cheshire,  Semi-Centen- 
nial  Address  at  St.  Mary's,  1892;  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead.  Vol.  III.,  p.  115. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  240. 

3.  Dr.  Battle,  North  Carolina  University  Magazine,  November.  1893. 

4.  The  News  and  Obsen-er,  May  15, 1S97 ;  Letter  from  Principal  Smedes. 


200  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

son  has  in  no  way  fallen  short.  During  1896-1897  there 
were  enrolled  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  pupils,  and 
the  faculty  consisted  of  fifteen  members.  Among  the 
strongest  teachers  under  Dr.  Aldert  Smedes  were  :  Misses 
E.  A.  Evertson  and  O'Connor;  Mesdames  Clement  and 
Gonye  ;  and  Mrs.  Iredell.  There  have  been  equally  as 
strong  ones  under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Bennett 
Smedes.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  as  leaders  : 
Mrs.  Kate  de  R.  Meares  ;  Misses  M.  E.  J.  Czarmonska 
and  E.  D.  Battle.  The  library  of  the  school  contains 
twenty-five  hundred  volumes  ;  and  the  principal's  of  the 
same  size  is  open  to  the  pupils.  There  has  been  but  one 
author  among  the  teachers — Mrs.  Annie  C.  Ketchum, 
Lotus  Flowers  and  a  text  book  on  Botany.  The  Muse  is 
the  name  of  the  students'  publication.  The  course  of 
studies  is  not  much  different  from  that  of  Salem  Female 
Academy  already  considered.  The  terms  have  recently 
been  reduced.  For  tuition  in  English  Branches,  Latin, 
Class  Singing  and  Elocution,  washing,  use  of  the  library. 
Music  from  an  assistant,  $240  are  charged.^ 

ASHEVILLE    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  school  goes  back  to  1842  for  its  beginning.  ^  Its 
early  history  has  not  been  ascertained.  However,  the 
writer  has  made  every  effort  to  do  so,  but  has  met  with 
no  success  and  little  appreciation.  It  was  the  property 
of  the  Holston  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  until  1866,  when  it  passed  over  to  a  joint 
stock  company,  composed  for  the  most  part  of  Asheville 
citizens.  Drs.  Erasmus  Rawley  and  Cummins  were 
among  the  presidents  before  the  Civil  War.  When  it 
became  the  property  of  the  stock  company  Dr.  James  S. 
Kennedy  was  elected  president ;  and  he  held  this  posi- 

1.  Catalogue,  1896-1897;  Letter  from  Principal  Smedes. 

2.  Catalogue,  1897-1898:  Letter  from  Prof.  B.  E.  Atkins,  Gastonia, 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  201 

tion  for  about  ten  years.  Then  Rev.  J.  R.  Long  served 
as  presiding  officer  for  two  years.  From  1878  to  1879 
the  institution  was  suspended.* 

In  September  of  1879  Rev.  James  Atkins,  A.  M.,  D. 
D.,  assumed  control,  and  was  at  its  head  for  ten  years. 
Rev.  S.N.  Barker,  of  Texas,  was  president  1889-1890  ; 
and  B.  E.  Atkins,  A.  M.,  1890-1893.2  i^  the  fall  of 
1893  Dr.  James  Atkins,  who  had  been  president  of 
Emory  and  Henry  College,  Virginia,  for  four  years, 
came  back.  He  again  had  control  until  the  summer  of 
1896,  when  he  was  elected  Sunday  School  Editor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  During  the  year 
1896-1897  it  was  kept  up  by  Mrs.  James  Atkins.  Last 
summer  the  property  was  sold  to  Archibald  A.  Jones,  A. 
M.  In  1887  the  present  building  was  erected  by  Dr. 
James  Atkins  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  During  the  eighteen 
years  with  which  he  was  connected  with  it,  as  president 
of  the  faculty  or  of  the  trustees,  it  had  an  annual  enroll- 
ment of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  ;  and  the  pupils 
came  from  almost  every  State  in  the  South  and  from 
Massachusetts,  Ohio,  Illinois  and  Nebraska. ^  The  course 
of  studies  was  equally  as  high  as  that  of  any  of  the 
female  schools  in  the  State  ;  and  the  faculty  w^as  com- 
posed of  about  twelve  members.  Board,  furnished 
rooms,  fuel,  lights,  and  tuition  in  the  literary  branches, 
cost  $225  per  year  of  thirty-eight  weeks;  Music,  Art, 
Elocution,  Book-keeping,  French,  German,  were  extras 
and  cost  from  $10  to  $35  each.^ 

Mr.  Jones,  who  was  president  of  Central  Female  Col- 
lege, Lexington,  Missouri,  1889-1897,  has  enlarged  the 
faculty,  extended  the  curriculum  and  increased  the  ex- 
penses to  a  considerable  extent.     The  faculty  for  1897- 

1.  Letter  from  Prof.  B.  E.  Atkins. 

2.  Ibid. 

3.  Ibid;  Catalogues,  1890-1898. 

4.  Catalogues,  1890-1896. 


202  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

1898  is  composed  of  fourteen  members.  The  courses  ad- 
vertised in  English,  Latin,  Greek,  French,  German, 
Mathematics,  Physics,  Chemistry,  Geology,  Philosophy, 
and  History,  are  as  extensive  as  those  given  by  any  of 
the  higher  institutions  for  men  in  the  State,  There  is  a 
preparatory  department  of  considerable  scope.  It  is 
very  probable  that  this  will  have  about  all  of  the  pupils, 
and  that  the  high  courses  given  in  the  catalogue  are 
only  ideal  standards.  Board,  lights,  heat,  tuition  in 
regular  courses,  for  scholastic  year  amount  to  $325  ;  and 
Music,  Art  and  Elocution  are  extras  and  cost  from  $15 
to  $45.1 

GREENSBORO    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  ranks  among  the  very  first  in  age  and 
influence.  Its  history  has  been  varied  and  interesting. 
It  was  born  and  reared  as  a  child  of  the  Methodist 
Church  ;  and,  though  at  one  time  it  was  almost  forsaken 
by  the  church,  it  still  loves  and  supports  its  dear  old 
mother.  Its  charter  was  ratified  December  28th,  1838; 
and  this  was  the  second  regularly  chartered  female  col- 
lege south  of  the  Potomac. ^  The  Wesleyan  Female 
College  of  Macon,  Georgia,  which  claims  the  record  of 
being  the  first  regularly  chartered  college  for  women  in 
the  world,  had  its  charter  confirmed  by  the  legislature 
of  that  State  December  23rd,  1836.^  There  are  several 
female  schools,  like  Salem  Female  Academy,  older  than 
either  of  these  institutions,  but  they  w^ere  not  recognized 
by  law  as  colleges  at  such  an  early  date. 

By  1830  the  Methodists  of  Greensboro  were  strong 
enough  to  build  a  church.  A  short  while  after  tlie 
church  was  erected,  a  little  school  was  begun  for  the 
children  of  the  members.     Miss  Phoebe  Judson  was  in 


1.  Catalogue  and  circular  announcements  for  1897-1898. 

2.  Dr.  T.  M.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  16a. 

3.  C.  E.  Jones'  Education  in  Georgia,  p.  91. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  203 

charge  of  this  for  some  time. ^  This  school  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  movement  to  establish  Greensboro  Female 
College.  In  1837  the  trustees  of  the  school  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Virginia  Conference,  which  met  at  Peters- 
burg, Virginia,  January  31st.  It  was  at  this  time  and 
place  that  the  North  Carolina  Conference  was  given  a 
separate  existence ;  and  the  petition  from  the  trustees 
of  the  school  in  Greensboro  set  forth  the  necessity  of 
having  a  female  institution  of  high  rank  under  this  new 
Conference.  Revs.  Moses  Brock ,  Peter  Doub  and  Samuel 
S.  Bryant  were  appointed  a  commictee  to  consider  this 
petition.  They,  after  careful  deliberation,  introduced  to 
the  Conference  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  and  are 
as  follows  : 

''Resolved,  1.  That  the  Conference  will  co-operate  with 
the  trustees  of  Greensboro  Female  School,  provided  that 
one-half  the  number  of  the  board  of  trustees  shall  at  all 
times  be  members  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference. 

''Resolved,  2.  That  the  board  thus  constituted  shall 
petition  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina  for  a  proper 
charter  for  aseminary  of  learning,  to  be  called  the  Greens- 
boro Female  College. 

"Resolved,  3.  That  the  Conference  appoint  Moses  Brock, 
Hezekiah  G.  Leigh,  William  Compton,  Peter  Doub,  John 
Hank,  James  Reid,  Bennett  T.  Blake,  William  E.  Pell 
and  Samuel  S.  Bryant,  trustees,  to  carry  into  effect  the 
object  contemplated  by  the  previous  resolutions. 

"Resolved,  4.  That  the  Bishop  be  requested  to  appoint 
an  agent  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  for  this  object. 

Moses  Brock,  Chairman." ^ 

Rev.  Samuel  S.  Bryant  was  appointed  financial  agent. 
Revs.  Moses  Brock,  Ira  T.  Wyche  and  James  Reid  fol- 
lowed him  in  the  same  position.  During  the  latter  part 
of  1837  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land,  on  the  western 


1.    Miss  Ruth  York,  College  Message.  November,  1897. 

•2.    Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  160-161. 


204  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

side  of  Greensboro,  were  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $3,350. 
Forty  acres  were  laid  off  for  college  purposes,  aud  the 
remaining  part  was  sold  in  town  lots  for  about  as  much 
as  the  original  tract  had  cost.  The  money  for  the  build- 
ing came  in  very  slowly  ;  those  were  times  of  great  busi- 
ness and  financial  depression.  The  trustees,  however, 
went  on  with  the  work ,  and  borrowed  money  on  their 
individual  notes.  In  September,  1843,  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  and  by  the  summer  of  1845  the  building  was 
completed.  It  was  built  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and 
contained  thirty-six  rooms.  From  first  to  last  it  had 
cost  as  much  as  $20,000,  a  large  part  of  which  was  still 
unpaid.  Some  time  later  the  debt  incurred  in  the  build- 
ing was  consolidated  by  a  loan  of  $7,000  from  the  liter- 
ary fund  of  the  State.  Rev.  Peter  Doub,  D.  D.,  was 
perhaps  the  most  active  and  influential  of  all  those  who 
took  part  in  this  educational  enterprise.  During  those 
early  days  Mrs.  Susan  Mendenhall,  of  Guilford  county, 
made  a  gift  of  $4,000,  one  of  the  largest  individual  dona- 
tions ever  made  to  the  institution.^ 

On  February  1st,  1846,  the  first  faculty  was  elected, 
and  Rev.  Soloman  Lea,  A.  M.,  became  president.  He 
was  born  at  Leasburg,  Caswell  county.  North  Carolina, 
November  21st,  1807;  graduated  with  A.  B.  from  the 
University  of  North  Carolina  in  1833  ;  A.  M.  from  the 
same  in  1838  ;  tutor  in  Randolph-Macon  College  1835- 
37;  president  of  Farm ville  (Virginia)  Female  Seminary 
1841-43  ;  principal  of  Somerville  Female  Institute,  Leas- 
burg,  1847-92  ;  died  April  30th,  1897.2  The  first  work 
of  the  college  began  April  15th,  1846.     The  faculty  was 


1.  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  161-162;  C.  0. 
Weaver,  Trinity  Archive,  November,  1896;  Catalogues,  1892-1898, historical  sketches. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  p.  161 ;  Rev.  R.  H. 
Broom,  North  Carolina  Christian  Advocate,  June  2, 1897;  Dr,  Jones,  Centennial  of 
Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  lo2;  Letters  from  Rev.  Soloman  Lea  to  President 
F.  L.  Reid,  March  25,  April  21, 1893,  Greensboro  Female  College  Library;  Miss  Wil- 
helmina  Lea,  Trinity  Archive,  February,  1898. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  205 

composed  of  five  memhers.  The  course  of  studies  was 
very  much  the  same  as  in^Edgeworth  Female  Seminary 
at  that  time.  The  expenses  were  as  follows  :  board  and 
tuition  in  the  prepai-atory  department,  five  months, 
$62-$65  ;  board,  washing,  fuel,  lights,  tuition  in  college 
course,  with  Music,  French,  Drawing,  Painting  and 
Needle-work,  five  months,  not  more  than  $100.i 

The  first  term  was  of  but  three  months  duration,  and 
there  were  enrolled  sixty  pupils.  During  the  fall  term 
of  the  first  year  there  were  one  hundred,  sixty  of  whom 
were  boarders.  The  income  from  the  students  for  the 
first  term  was  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  salaries  in  full, 
but  during  the  second  after  the  salaries  were  paid  there 
was  a  surplus.  The  salary  of  the  president  was  $1,000  ; 
matron,  Mrs.  S.  Blake,  $1,000;  Rev.  Bennett  T.  Blake, 
professor,  $500  ;  Mrs.  Sophia  Lea,  Music,  $500  ;  Miss 
Phoebe  Judson  $300.  Mr.  Lea  did  his  best  to  make  the 
college  a  success  ;  and  he  succeeded  well,  though  several 
occurrences  of  an  unpleasant  nature  took  place.  There 
was  a  great  deal  of  discord  in  the  faculty.  Mr.  Blake, 
who  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Conference,  was 
professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Science,  chaplain,  secre- 
tary of  the  trustees  and  treasurer  of  the  college  ;  and  he 
wanted  to  have  a  very  large  part  of  the  management  in 
his  own  hands.  He,  Mrs.  Blake  and  another  member  of 
the  faculty,  whom  Mr.  Lea  calls  the  ''Northern  mischief 
maker,"  stirred  up  discord  unless  they  were  allowed  ab- 
solute authority.  Mr.  Lea  soon  found  out  that  he  could 
not  run  the  college  with  such  discordant  elements  in  its 
faculty,  and  resigned  in  December,  1847.^ 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Lea,  Rev.  Albert  Micajah 
Shipp  was  elected  to  the  presidency.     He   took   hold  in 

1.  Catalogue.  1846;  Greensboro  Patriot,  February  7, 1846. 

2.  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1846-1885,  p.  40;  Greensboro  Patriot, 
December  11. 1847;  Manuscript  of  Mr.  Lea  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library 
•written  to  President  Reid  in  1893. 


206  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

January,   1848,   and   resigned  June,   1850.     During  his 
term  of  two  and  one  half  years  the  institution  prospered 
even    beyond    the    highest    expectations.       Twenty-six 
young  women   graduated  under   him,   and   the  finances 
were  put  in  a  somewhat  better  shape. ^     Though  he  was 
not  connected  with  it  long  enough  to  be  considered  one 
of  its   great  presidents,   still  he  was  one  of  the  greatest 
characters  ever  within  its  walls.     He  was  born  in  Stokes 
county.  North    Carolina;  graduated  with   A.   B.   degree 
from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1840,  A.  M.  in 
1845;   D.  D.  from  Randolph-Macon  College   1859;  LL. 
D.  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina   1883  ;  pastor 
at   Charleston,   Columbia,   Sumter   and   Cheraw,   South 
Carolina,  and  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina;  professor  of 
Mathematics  and  French  in  Greensboro  Female  College 
at  the  same  time  he  was  president ;  professor  of  History 
in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  1849-1859,  and  of 
French  1850-1853;  president  of  Wofford  College,  South 
Carolina,  1859-1875  ;  professor  of  Exegetical  Theology 
in  Vanderbilt  University   1876-1886,   of  which  he   was 
dean  of  the  theological  department  and  vice  chancellor  for 
three  years  ;  wrote  History  of  Methodism  in  South  Caro- 
linal884  ;  died  at  Cheraw,  South  Carolina,  July  27, 1887.2 
In  June,  1850,  Rev.  Charles  Force  Deems  was  elected 
the  third  president.     He  was  so  well  and  favorably  known 
that  it  seemed  that   a   new  era  had  begun  when  he  as- 
sumed  the   management.     He   was  born  in   Baltimore, 
Maryland,  December  4th,   1820;  student  at  Dickinson 
College,  Pennsylvania,  1834-1839,  where  he  graduated; 
preacher  in  New  York  City  1839-40  ;  agent  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society  in  North  Carolina  1840-1842  ;  adjunct 
professor  of   Logic   and  Rhetoric  in   the  University    of 

1.  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1846-1885.  p.  40;  Greensboro  Patriot, 
December  11. 1847;  Manuscript  of  Mr.  Lea  in  Greensboro  Female  College  Library, 
written  to  President  Reid  in  1893;  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North 
Carolina,  p.  164;  Catalogues.  1892-1898. 

2.  General  Catalogue  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  pp.  80,  207,  241;  Letter 
from  Miss  Susie  V.  Shipp,  Cheraw,  South  Carolina. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  207 

North  Carolina  1842-1848  ;  professor  of  Natural  Science 
in  Randolph-Macon  College  1848-1849  ;  D.  D.  from  Ran- 
dolph-Macon 1853  ;  founder  of  the  female  schools  in 
Thomasville  and  Wilson ;  founder  and  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  in  New  York  City  1870-1893; 
LL.  D.  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  1877; 
founder  and  editor  of  the  American  Institute  of  Chris- 
tian Philosophy  1881-1893 ;  editor  of  five  different 
papers  ;  author  of  as  many  as  twenty  volumes  ;  died  in 
New  York  City,  November  18th,  1893. ^ 

He  brought  new  life  and  methods,  and  the  school  be- 
came very  prosperous.  During  the  first  scholastic  year 
under  him  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  pupils  matricu- 
lated ;  and  this  was  the  enrollment  for  the  next  year. 
The  rooms  were  all  filled,  and  many  more  pupils  would 
have  entered  had  the  accommodations  been  sufficient. 
President  Deems  asked  the  trustees  for  more  room. 
They  were  already  burdened  with  the  debt  of  the  first 
building  and  were  unwilling  to  increase  this.  It  was  in 
this  emergenc}^  that  President  Deems  in  1852  made  the 
$20,000  proposition.  It  was  as  follows  :  that  the  North 
Carolina  Conference  collect  and  pay  over  $20,000  to  the 
trustees  ;  that  the  trustees  give  board  and  tuition  to  the 
daughters  of  all  the  ministers  of  the  Conference  at  that 
time,  and  afterwards  to  ten  annually  during  the  life  of 
the  institution.  This  at  the  time  seemed  a  splendid 
proposition,  though  in  the  end  it  was  not  successful. 
The  offer  was  accepted  on  the  part  of  the  Conference, 
and  many  of  the  preachers  went  to  work  to  raise  the 
money.  Revs.  William  Closs,  D.  D.,  and  William  Bar- 
ringer  secured  a  large  part  of  it.^     It  was  not  until  the 


1.  Charles  Force  Deems,  (autobiographical  and  biographical),  by  his  Sons.  pp. 
17.61-65,  80.94.95.98. 1C8-1-J1. 191-222.  2-22-23G.  274,  3(>S-32a,  348;  General  Catalogue  of 
the  University  of  North  Carolina,  pp.  80.  240;  Dr.  F.  L.  Reid,  the  Alumni  Quarterly 
of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  January,  1895. 

2.  Dr.  F.  L.  Reid.  the  Alumni  Quarterly  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
January,  1895;  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  164-165; 
Catalogues,  1851-1853;  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1816-1885,  pp.  656-684. 


208  'J^HE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

fall  of  1856  that  any  benefits  came  to  the  ministers, 
and  the  full  amount  was  not  paid  to  the  trustees  until 
May,  1860.1 

Before  anything  was  done  in  the  way  of  enlarging  the 
building  Dr.  Deems  retired,  December,  1854.  Though 
he  was  the  presiding  officer  for  only  four  and  a  half 
years,  still  he  had  increased  the  faculty,  appliances  and 
patronage  ;  and  he  made  a  reputation  for  the  college  in 
the  way  of  scholarship. ^  In  this  connection  it  is  well  to 
bring  to  light  a  few  points  of  the  internal  workings  of 
the  president  and  trustees.  From  the  beginning  there 
had  been  somewhat  of  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  lat- 
ter to  assume  too  much  of  the  management  of  college 
affairs  in  their  own  hands.  The  trustees  elected  the 
president  and  expected  him  to  run  the  institution  so  as 
to  make  fine  profits  for  them,  but  they  gave  him  little 
choice  in  selecting  teachers  and  in  paying  them  what 
their  services  were  worth.  A  minority  of  the  trustees 
had  enough  influence  on  the  majority  to  thwart  all  plans 
for  improvement  and  scholarship.  While  the  income 
for  1852-1853  was  $7,330,  the  salaries  were  only  $4,710, 
giving  a  profit  of  $2,620.^  In  spite  of  such  fine  profits, 
the  executive  committee  of  the  trustees  cut  down  the 
salaries  of  three  members  of  the  faculty.  Mr.  Lea  and 
Dr.  Shipp  had  resigned  largely  on  account  of  such  mis- 
management on  the  part  of  the  trustees.  Dr.  Deems  en- 
dured it  for  some  time,  but  on  May  18th,  1853,  he  sent 
in  his  resignation.  The  writer  has  a  copy  of  this  before 
him  and  bears  witness  that  the  whole  is  very  interesting 
reading.  It  is  scathing,  still  pleasant  and  true.  It 
shows  the  deep  grasp  that  Dr.  Deems  had  of  the  true 
educational  problems.     His  first  resignation  was  not  ac- 


1.  Day  Book  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1855-1863;  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of 
Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  167. 

2.  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  165;  Catalogues, 
1851-1853;  i  harles  Force  Deems,  by  his  Sons,  pp.  108-117. 

3.  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1846-1885,  p.  676. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  209 

cepted,  and  he  remaiued  as  president  until  December, 
1854.1 

At  this  time  Rev.  Turner  Myrick  Jones,  who  had  been 
professor  of  Mathematics  and  Ancient  Languages  for  one 
year,  became  president ;  and  he  remained  at  its  head 
until  his  death,  June  30th,  1890.  He  was  born  in 
Franklin  county.  North  Carolina,  June  4th,  1819  ;  grad- 
uated at  Randolph-Macon  College  with  A.  B.  and  A.M.; 
D.  D.  from  Trinity  College  1870 ;  private  teacher  in 
Warren  county  1844-1846  ;  principal  of  Ridgeway  Male 
Academy  1846-1847;  principal  of  Midway  Academy, 
Franklin  county,  1847-1850;  principal  of  Louisburg 
Male  Academy  1850-1853,  when  he  came  to  Greensboro 
Female  College.  ^  He  was  one  of  the  most  noble  and 
cultured  teachers  this  State  has  produced.  As  a  teacher 
and  guide  of  young  women  he  has  no  superior,  and  with 
the  exception  of  Dr.  Smedes  no  equal. 

When  he  took  hold  the  institution  was  not  by  any 
means  in  a  solid  condition.  The  financial  report  of  1855 
shows  that  $10,000  were  still  unpaid  on  the  first  build- 
ing ;  and  this  was  to  he  raised  from  tuition.  The  pat- 
ronage was  so  large  that  more  room  had  to  be  added, 
and  still  the  Conference  had  not  collected  enough  on  the 
$20,000  proposition  to  erect  buildings.  At  the  meeting 
of  the  trustees  in  1856  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  wing  to 
the  west  end  of  the  old  building.  This  was  completed 
within  a  year,  and  still  everything  was  filled.  The  next 
two  years  were  very  prosperous.  In  May,  1859,  a  wing 
to  the  east  end  was  begun,  but  before  this  was  finished 
there  were  so  many  pupils  that  a  good  many  had  to 
board  in  private  families.^     By  May,  1860,  the  Confer- 


1.  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College.  1846-18^,  p.  676. 

2.  Ibid,  pp.  40-43;  North  Carolina  Teacher,  March,  1886;  Miss  Dora  Duty  Jones; 
President  Dred  Peacock;  Tomb-stone  at  Greensboro;  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of 
Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  106. 

:3.  Deems' Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,  1857,  p.  175;  Dr.  Jones.  Centennial  of 
Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  167;  Day  Book  of  Greensboro  Female  College, 
1855-1863. 


210  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

ence  had  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  trustees  sufficient 
bonds  to  confirm  the  $20,000  proposition.  Of  these 
bonds  only  $11,300  were  ever  collected;  and  thirty-one 
daughters  of  ministers  received  instruction,  six  of  whom 
graduated,  at  a  cost  of  $13,912.  By  1861  the  east  wing 
could  be  used  ;  and  the  capacity  of  the  whole  building 
was  sufficient  to  accommodate  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  boarders.  From  1860  to  1863  there  were  enrolled 
each  year  more  than  two  hundred  pupils  ;  during  the 
past  eight  and  a  half  years  there  had  been  one  hundred 
and  eighteen  graduates.  The  income  was  also  fairly 
good.  According  to  the  report  of  1863,  the  assets  were 
enough  to  pay  all  the  indebtedness.  On  the  9th  of 
August,  1863,  came  the  great  fire  that  consumed  every- 
thing, even  the  institution's  life  for  ten  years. ^ 

Soon  after  the  fire  a  movement  was  made  to  rebuild 
at  the  earliest  possible  date,  and  public  sentiment  was 
decidedly  in  favor  of  it.  Dr.  Jones  was  appointed  agent 
to  secure  funds.  The  work  was  begun  in  1864,  but 
was  delayed  for  a  long  time  by  the  great  depression  that 
came  when  the  Civil  War  had  turned  against  the  South. 
However,  some  few  kept  up  hopes.  At  the  first  Con- 
ference after  the  war  Rev.  Charles  Force  Deems,  D.  D., 
was  selected  as  financial  agent.  He  moved  to  New  York 
City  about  1865,  and  it  was  hoped  that  he  could  secure 
money  from  some  philanthropist  of  that  wealthy  city. 
However,  this  hope  was  never  fully  realized,  though  Mr. 
William  Vanderbilt  gave  $5,000.  A  new  board  of  trus- 
tees was  appointed,  and  they  secured  a  new  charter  in  1869. 
In  1871  the  work  was  again  taken  up,  and  by  the  sum- 
mer of  1873  the  present  college  building  was  ready  for 
occupancy.  It  had  cost  about  $60,000;  and  the  money 
had  been  obtained  from  manv  sources.    The  most  liberal 


1.  Dr.  Jones.  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  168-1(J9;  Journal  of 
Greensboro  Female  College,  1846-1885;  Day  Book  of  Greensboro  Female  College, 
1855-1863. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  211 

givers  were  :  James  H.  Davis,  $10,000  ;  W.  T.  Sutherlin, 
$5,000;  Dr.  Allen  Gunii,  $2,000;  W.  Turner,  $2,000; 
I.  M.  F.  and  E.  Garrett,  $2,068.82.  The  saddest  occur- 
rence connected  with  the  whole  affair  was  the  accidental 
death  of  Rev.  William  Barringer,  which  happened  March 
10th,  1873.  He  had  been  for  years  the  institution's 
warmest  friend  and  best  adviser.^ 

On  August  27th,  1873,  the  college  again  opened,  after 
a  ])eriod  of  inactivity  of  eleven  years.  Dr.  Jones  taught 
elsewhere  most  of  this  time.  He  carried  on  the  college 
at  Louisburg  from  January,  1866,  to  June,  1869,  and  at 
Warrenton  from  September,  1869,  to  June,  1873. ^  From 
1863  to  1873  fifty-one  young  ladies  graduated  under  him 
and  in  the  same  course  of  studies  as  at  Green.sboro  Fe- 
male College.  3  The  new  building  was  so  much  larger 
and  better  arranged  than  the  old,  that  it  seemed  as  if 
the  institution  had  just  begun  its  life.  The  following 
enrollment  speaks  for  itself:  1873-74,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-four;  1874-75,  one  hundred  and  forty-two;  1875- 
76,  one  hundred  and  thirty-two;  1876-77,  one  hundred 
and  four ;  1877-78,  ninety-one;  1878-79,  eighty-seven; 
1879-80,  seventy-three;  1880-81,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  ;   1881-82,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight.-^ 

The  debt  incurred  in  erecting  the  new  building  was 
hanging  over  the  trustees,  and  the  Conference  was  very 
slow  to  relieve  them.  A  large  part  of  this  indebtedness 
was  due  to  Rev.  N.  H.  D.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  and  Col.  Charles 
Shober.  When  all  the  funds  had  been  consumed  in  the 
building  and  still  it  was  not  by  any  means  finished, 
these  men  came  to  the  relief  of  the  committee  and  ad- 
vanced money  with  which  to  complete  the  work.     The 


1.  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  170-173;  Day  Book 
of  Greensboro  Female  College.  18.55-18fj3:  Catalogue,  1873;  Dr.  Reid,  the  Alumni 
Quarterly  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  January.  1895. 

2.  Dr.  Jones'  Journal  at  Louisburg  and  Warrenton  ;  Catalogue.  1S73. 

3.  Catalogues,  1892-1898. 

4.  Catalogues,  1873-1888. 


212  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

debts  to  these  liberal  men  and  to  others  were  not  paid, 
nor  arranged  for.  The  first  mortgage  of  $20,000  was 
held  by  the  North  Carolina  Railroad,  T.  M.  Holt,  presi- 
dent. The  railroad  was  urgent  for  its  money,  and  the 
Conference  could  or  would  not  pay  it.  The  whole  prop- 
erty was  put  up  for  sale  June  5th,  1882.  For  some  time 
everything  seemed  dark ,  but  in  the  emergency  a  com- 
pany of  large-hearted  men  was  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  buying  the  property  and  saving  it  to  the  church.  The 
original  incorporators  of  this  company  were :  Henry 
Lilly,  E.  J.  Lilly,  J.  S.  Carr,  J.  H.  Ferree,  J.  A.  Odell, 
J.  A.  Gray,  J.  M.  Winstead,  L.  W.  Crawford  and  T.  M. 
Jones.  R.  R.  Gwyn,  J.  M.  Odell  and  0.  W.  Carr  soon 
came  in.  The  officers  of  the  company  were  :  J.  S.  Carr, 
president ;  T.  M.  Jones,  treasurer  ;  J.  A.  Odell,  secretary. 
They  paid  off  the  first  mortgage  of  $20,000,  and  obtained 
the  whole  property  in  fee  simple.  Dr.  Jones  had  claims 
against  the  old  institution  for  $6,500,  and  was  given  in 
payment  sixty-five  shares  of  $100  each  in  the  stock  com- 
pany, i 

As  soon  as  the  company  had  organized  and  placed  the 
institution  on  its  feet,  they  offered  to  give  it  back  to  the 
North  Carolina  Conference,  upon  the  condition  that  the 
company  be  relieved  of  any  financial  responsibility  as- 
sumed in  its  purchase.  This  proposition  was  made  No- 
vember 18th,  1882,  but  the  Conference  refused  to  accept 
it. 2  The  company  had  come  in  at  a  time  of  great  need 
and  bought  the  property  to  save  the  institution  to  the 
church.  It  seems  that  the  church  did  not  want  it  back, 
at  any  rate  the  responsibility  of  keeping  its  finances  in 
shape.  After  it  was  found  out  that  the  Conference  did 
not  want  it  again,  the  company  at  once  decided  to  bond 


1.  Dr.  Jones,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  p.  174;  Raleigh  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  1882,  June  7,  July  26;  Catalogue,  1882-1883;  Record  of  the  Directors 
of  Greensboro  Female  College. 

2.  Record  of  the  Directors  of  Greensboro  Female  College. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  213 

the  property  to  obtain  funds  for  improvement.  Then 
beojan  the  new  era  of  the  old  college  ;  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  company  has  grown  w  iser  and  stronger  each 
year  to  the  present.  Dr.  Jones  remained  president  until 
his  death,  June,  1890.  The  credit  of  the  college  had 
been  restored  and  the  patronage  began  to  increase.  The 
annual  enrollment  for  1882-1890  was  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  to  two  hundred  and  six.^ 

Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  Dixon  assumed  control  in  the 
summer  of  1890,  and  held  the  position  till  June,  1893. 
He  was  born  in  Cleveland  county.  North  Carolina,  March 
27th,  1846  ;  in  the  war  1861-65  ;  joined  the  South  Caro- 
lina Conference  in  1868  ;  pastor  at  Sumter,  South  Caro- 
lina, Monroe  and  Shelly  Circuit;  physician  at  Kings 
Mountain  1874-84 ;  superintendent  of  the  Oxford  Or- 
phan Asylum  1884—90  ;  physician  at  Kings  Mountain 
from  1894  to  the  present.^  The  three  years  of  his  ad- 
ministration were  quiet  and  prosperous.^  He  won  a 
place  in  the  hearts  of  his  pupils  that  few  are  ever  per- 
mitted to  enjoy. 

Rev.  Frank  L.  Reid,  D.  D.,  became  Dr.  Dixon's  suc- 
cessor. He  came  at  a  time  when  great  ability  was  re- 
quired. The  State  Normal  and  Industrial  College  for 
women  had  opened  up  at  Greensboro,  October,  1892. 
This  was  supported  by  the  State  and  Peabody  funds, 
and  had  one  of  the  strongest  faculties  ever  gathered  to- 
gether in  North  Carolina.  For  some  time  many  thought 
that  this  institution  would  soon  prove  the  ruin  of  Greens- 
boro Female  College.  Such  forebodings  were  false.  Dr. 
Reid,  one  of  the  very  ablest  men  of  his  day,  was  at  the 
head;  and  he  knew  not  failure.  Though  he  was  the 
guide  but  little  more  than  a  year,  still  that  time  is  very 
precious  in  the  history  of  the  college.     He  brought  new 

1.  Catalogues,  1882-1890;  Record  of  Greensboro  Female  College. 

2.  Legislature  and  Government  of  North  Carolina,  1897  ,pp.  18-19. 
-S.    Catalogues,  1890-1893. 


214  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

life  and  hopes  to  the  faculty  and  students  ;  he  purchased 
the  first  real  chemical  equipment  the  institution  ever 
had,  at  a  cost  of  $600  ;  he  erected  the  president's  resi- 
dence ;  he  increased  the  scope  of  instruction  and  made 
and  confirmed  friends  here  and  there.  ^  He  was  born 
in  Rockingham  county,  North  Carolina,  June  16th, 
1851;  student  at  Trinity  College  1866-70,  where  he 
graduated  with  A.  B.  degree;  principal  of  the  Korners- 
ville  High  School  fall  of  1870;  joined  the  North  Caro- 
lina Conference,  December,  1870  ;  pastor  of  the  Madison 
Circuit  1870-73  ;  pastor  at  Louisburg  1873-77  ;  presi- 
dent of  Louisburg  Female  College  1877-78;  co-editor, 
with  Rev.  W.  S.  Black ,  D.  D . ,  of  the  Raleigh  Chritian  Advo- 
cate 1878-84  ;  editor  of  same  1884-93  ;  died  September 
24th,  1894.2 

On  the  2nd  of  October,  1894,  Rev.  W.  C.  Norman, 
then  of  Wilmington,  was  elecied  his  successor.  He  had 
too  much  devotion  for  the  ministry,  and  did  not  accept. 
On  the  31st  of  the  same  month  Dred  Peacock,  A.  B., 
A.  M.,  became  president,  and  he  still  guides  affairs.  He 
was  born  in  Wilson  county.  North  Carolina,  April  12th, 
1864;  student  in  Wilson  Collegiate  Seminary,  Trinity 
College  1883-87,  where  he  graduated  with  A.  B.  ;  princi- 
pal of  the  Lexington  Female  Seminary  1887-88  ;  pro- 
fessor of  Latin  and  Science  in  Greensboro  Female  Col- 
lege 1888-94 ;3  given  A.  M.  in  1890  and  Litt.  D.  in  1897 
by  Trinity  College.  His  administration  has  been  active 
in  the  way  of  improvements.  When  he  assumed  con- 
trol the  library  had  only  a  few  hundred  books.  Now 
it  contains  five  thousand  well  selected  volumes,  many  of 
which  are  very  rare  and  valuable.     Mrs.  Dred  Peacock 

1.  Catalogues,  1893-1895. 

2.  Catalogue  of  Trinity  College,  1897.  p.  Ill ;  Manuscript  sketch  in  the  possession 
of  the  writer;  Catalogues,  1893-1898;  The  News  and  Observer,  September  25th,  1894; 
Record  of  the  Directors  of  Greensboro  Female  College. 

3.  The  News  and  ObserA'er,  November  1,  1894;  President  Peacock;  Catalogues, 
1888-1898;  Greensboro  Record,  November,  1894. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  215 

in  December,  1894,  gave  $1,000  toward  an  endowment 
for  this.  The  directors  at  their  private  expense  had  a 
room  fixed  up  in  lumdsome  style  and  arrangement.  Tlie 
old  books  were  placed  in  the  new  quarters  in  January, 
1895.  There  were  few  then,  but  now  everything  looks 
changed.  There  have  been  hundreds  of  gifts  to  this,  of 
various  kinds  and  amounts.  The  North  Carolina  col- 
lection has  about  fifteen  hundred  different  titles,  and 
is  easily  one  of  the  very  largest  and  most  valuable  in 
existence.  The  courses  of  studies  have  been  intensified, 
and  the  work  has  became  much  more  rigid.  Written 
examinations  have  been  introduced  for  entrance  into 
any  class.  Though  the  system  of  instruction  has  been 
made  far  deeper  and  more  rigid,  still  the  patronage  for 
1897-98  is  larger  than  it  has  been  during  the  past  seven 
years . ^ 

The  list  of  distinguished  alumnae  is  too  long  to  be 
given  in  this  sketch.  From  1848  to  1863  there  were  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  graduates  ;  under  Dr.  Jones  at 
Kittrell,  Louisburg  and  Warrenton,  1863-73,  fifty-one; 
from  1873  to  1897,  four  hundred  and  tw^enty-eight.^ 
These  are  found  all  over  the  South,  and  some  in  the 
North  and  West.  Wherever  found,  they  are  still  loyal 
friends  ;  many  of  the  pupils  of  the  past  are  the  patrons 
of  to-day.  They  remember  their  alma  inater  with  little 
gifts  of  money  and  books  now  and  then,  and  send  their 
daughters  as  precious  ones  occasionally. 

The  gifts  to  the  institution  have  been  many,  though 
none  of  them  large.  Among  those  not  already  men- 
tioned is  that  of  Dr.  Siddell,  who  in  1883  gave  $3,000. 
In  this  connection  the  great  services  of  the  members  of 
the  stock  company  should  be  mentioned.  They  have 
given  their  money  and  some  of  their  time  and  attention 

1.  Catalogues,  1895-1898;  Record  of  Greensboro  Female  College;  President  Pea- 
cock. 

2.  Catalogues,  1892-1898. 


216  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

for  the  sake  of  the  education  of  the  young  women  of 
the  land.  They  have  made  it  possible  for  the  college 
to  offer  fine  courses  of  instruction  at  fair  terms.  Mr. 
J.  A.  Odell  deserves  special  mention  for  his  kind  inter- 
est and  liberality.  Since  the  formation  of  the  company 
he  has  been  the  institution's  true  adviser  and  warm 
friend.  His  gifts  to  the  college  and  the  Methodist 
Church  mark  him  as  liberal ;  his  devotion  to  duty  and 
all  things  noble  make  him  exemplary. 

The  male  members  of  the  faculty  have  been  :  Rev. 
Solomon  Lea,  A.  M.,  Anc.  Lang.,  1846-48;  Rev.  Ben- 
nett T.  Blake,  Mental  and  Moral  Sci.,  1846-48  ;  William 
C.  Doub,  A.  M.,  Math.,  Nat.  Sci.,  1847,  1851-53,  1861- 
68,  1873-78;  Rev.  James  Jamison,  Anc.  Lang,,  Nat. 
Sci.,  1848-50;  Rev.  A.  M.  Shipp,  A.  M.,  Math.,  French, 
1848-50;  Rev.  F.  X.  Foster,  A.  M.,  1849-51;  Francis 
Cochen,  Music,  part  of  spring  1850;  Rev.  C.  F.  Deems, 
A.  M.,  Anc.  Lang.,  Phys.  Sci.,  1850-54;  Rev.  A.  S. 
Andrews,  Evidences  of  Christ.,  spring  1851  ;  Andrew  G. 
Kern,  Music,  1851-53;  Rev.  Turner  M.  Jones,  A.  M., 
Math.,  Anc.  Lang.,  1853-54,  Anc.  Lang.,  Nat.  Sci., 
1854-63,  Mental  and  Moral  Sci.,  1873-90;  Theodore  F. 
Wolle,  Music,  1853-59  ;  Ernest  Jouanne,  French,  1853- 
55;  William  K.  Blake,  A.  M.,  Math.,  Anc.  Lang.,  1854- 
56;  W.  C.  A.  Frerichs,  Drawing,  Painting,  1855-62; 
Eugene  P.  Raillard,  French,  1855-56;  Samuel  Lander, 
A.  M.,  Math.,  Anc.  Lang.,  author  of  an  Arithmetic, 
1857-59;  W.  F.  Alderman,  A.  M.,  Math.,  Anc.  Lang., 
1859-93;  F.  J.  Hahr,  Music,  Fine  Arts,  1873-77;  H. 
E.  Rosenstack,  Music,  1877-78;  A.  H.  Bach,  Music, 
1879-80;!  R.  Fasolt,  Music,  1886-88;  Dred  Peacock, 
A.  M.,  Latin,  Nat.  Sci.,  1888-94;  Walter  P.  Sullivan, 
Music,  1888-90  ;  B.  F.  Dixon,  Mental  and  Moral  Philos., 
1890-93;  Rev.  J.  D.  Arnold,  A.  B.,  Math.,  Metaphysics, 

1.    Catalogues,  1846-1880;  Journal  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  1846-1885. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  217 

1893-95  ;  J.  \V.  Parker,  Music,  1894- ;  Charles  L.  Raper, 
A.  B.,  Latin,  Sci.,  1894-98. ^ 

The  lady  members  have  been  so  many  and  have  held 
in  some  cases  for  such  a  short  period,  that  the  full  list 
will  not  be  given.  They  have  done  work  equally  as  able 
as  th-e  men,  and  their  names  should  be  handed  down  in 
history  as  well  as  in  tradition.  In  this  connection  space 
will  not  permit  the  mention  of  them  all.  However,  the 
writer  would  name  some  of  the  leading  and  most  conse- 
crated of  those  who  have  been  associated  wich  him  for 
the  past  four  years:  Lillian  Long,  English,  History, 
1893- ;  Minnie  H.  Moore,  Mathematics,  1894- ;  Bettie 
Armfield,  Business  Department,  1890- ;  Louisa  M.  Bat- 
son,  Music,  1892-96;  Alta  B.  Cozart,  A.  B.,  Elocution, 
1894- ;  Anne  M.  Sneed,  Music,  1894- ;  Annie  M.  Page, 
French,  German,  1895- ;  Ava  L.  Fleming,  Latin,  Eng- 
lish, 1895- ;  Catharine  F.  Heiskell,  Drawing,  Painting, 
1895- ;  Clara  B.  Orr,  Music,  1896-98;  Clara  Puryear, 
A.  B.,  A.  M.,  English,  1897-.^ 

The  present  course  of  studies  in  the  regular  depart- 
ments is :  Freshman — English  Grammar  (Baskervill 
and  Sewell) ,  Exercises  in  Composition,  Lockwood's 
Lessons  in  English,  Selections  from  American  Litera- 
ture, Hawthorne's  Tauglewood  Tales,  American  His- 
tory (Montgomery) ,  The  Beginner's  Latin  Book  (Collar 
and  Daniell,  Viri  Romae  (D'Ooge) ,  Keetel's  Elementary 
French  Grammar,  Fi-ench  Conversation,  Super's  Reader, 
German  Lessons  (Collar-Eysenbach) ,  Conversation 
and  Dictation,  German  Grammar  ( Joynes-Meissner) , 
Grimm's  Maerchen,  Complete  Geography  (Frye) ,  Zoo- 
logy (Burnet) ,  Sutton  and  Kimbrough's  Higher  Arith- 
metic ;  Sophomore — Hill's  Foundations  of  Rhetoric, 
Irving 's    Sketch-Book,    Longfellow's    Evangeline,    and 


1.    Catalogues,  1880-1898. 
•2.    Catalogues,  1892-1898. 


218  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRJVATP: 

Courtship  of  Miles  Standidi,  Whittier's  Snow-Bound 
and  other  poems,  Lowell's  Vision  of  Sir  Launfal,  par- 
allel work  in  biography,  Composition  Work,  Meikle- 
jon's  History  of  English  Literature,  Dickens'  Christmas 
Carol  and  Cricket  on  the  Hearth,  Tennyson's  Enoch 
Arden  and  other  poems,  Scott's  Lady  of  the  Lake  and 
Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel,  History  of  England  (Mont- 
gomery) ,  Caesar's  Gallic  War  (Allen  and  Greenough)  , 
six  books,  Latin  Grammar  (Bennett) ,  Latin  Composi- 
tion (Bennett)  ,  first  twenty-two  lessons.  Elementary 
French  Grammar  finished,  Super's  Reader  finished, 
Keetel's  Complete  Grammar,  L'Abbe  Constantin,  Ger- 
man Grammar,  Wilhelm  Tell  (Scliiller) ,  Historische 
Erzaehlungen ,  Conversation  and  Dictation,  Minna  Von 
Barnhelm,  Die  Journalisten,  Physical  Geograpliy  (Hin- 
man) ,  Physiology  and  Hygiene  (Hutchison),  Went- 
worth's  Elements  of  Algebra,  supplemented  by  Went- 
worth  and  Hill's  Exercises  in  Algebra;  Junior — From 
Milton  to  Tennyson  (S3de),  Pancoast's  Litroduction  to 
English  Literature,  Composition  Work,  Rolfe's  edition 
of  Merchant  of  Venice,  As  You  Like  It,  Twelfth  Night, 
and  Julius  Caesar,  General  History  (Myers),  Cicero's 
Conspiracy  of  Catiline  (Allen  and  Greenough),  four 
orations,  Latin  Grammar,  Latin  Composition,  (Bennett) , 
History  of  Rome  (Creighton) ,  Vergil's  Aeneid  (Harper 
and  Miller),  four  books,  Roman  Mythology,  French 
Grammar,  Le  Petit  Chose  (Daudet) ,  Le  Cid  (Corneille) , 
Hernani  (Victor  Hugo) ,  German  Grammar  (^Whitney) , 
Readings  from  the  Lyric  Poetry  of  Goethe  and  Heine, 
other  German  authors,  Chemistry  (Williams'  New), 
Laboratory  Manual  (Williams),  Wenthworth's  New 
Plane  and  Solid  Geometry  ;  Senior — Tennyson's  Arthur- 
ian Poems,  selections  from  English  Prose  Classics,  Rolfe's 
edition  of  Hamlet  and  Much  Ado  About  Nothing,  Theme 
Work,  Rolfe's  edition  of  Macbeth,   King   Lear,   Othello 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  219 

and  Henry  IV.,  History  of  North  Carolina,  Horace, 
(3des  (Smith  and  Greenough) ,  four  books,  Roman  Liter- 
ature (as  much  as  in  Bender) ,  Tacitus,  the  Agricola  and 
Germania  (Hopkins),  Roman  Constitution  (Tighe) , 
L'Ami  Fritz  (Erckmann-Chatrian) ,  L'Athalie  (Racine) , 
La  Litterature  Francaise  (Berlitz) ,  Merope  (Voltaire) , 
Contes  Choisies  (Daudet) ,  Un  Mariage  d'Amour  (Hal- 
evy) ,  Litterature  Francaise,  German  Grammar  (Whit- 
ney),  Faust,  Part  I.,  Reading  at  Sight,  Conversation 
and  Dictation,  Principles  of  Physics  (Gage) ,  Elementary 
Geology  (Tarr) ,  Went  worth's  Plane  and  Spherical 
Trigonometry,  Psychology  (Steele) ,  Ethics  (Steele),  Civil 
Government  ^Finger) . ^ 

CHOWAN    BAPTIST    FEMALE    INSTITUTE. 

Murfreesboro  has  been  the  centre  of  a  large  Baptist 
community  for  a  long  time,  and  the  Baptists  here,  as 
elsewhere,  have  always  been  active  in  the  way  of  educa- 
tion. In  1848  the  Chowan  and  Portsmouth  Associations 
decided  to  establish  a  school  for  the  higher  education  of 
young  women.  G.  C.  Moore,  G.  M.  Thompson.  S.  Z. 
Wheeler,  W.  B.  Mitchell,  A.  Z.  Askew,  T.  Hume,  J. 
Prince,  and  others  of  these  associations,  formed  a  com- 
pany, purchased  land  and  erected  a  house  in  the  town  of 
Murfreesboro,  at  a  cost  of  $1,225.  The  school  was 
opened  in  October,  1848,  with  Rev.  A.  McDowell,  D.  D., 
principal.  He  remained  at  its  head  for  a  short  while 
only.  Rev.  M.  R.  Forey  became  the  second  principal, 
and  held  the  position  until  August,  1853.  The  pros- 
perity under  him  was  great.  It  soon  became  necessary 
to  have  more  room.  A  large  brick  building  was  erected 
in  1852.  Rev.  William  Hooper,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 
president  from  1853  to  1862.     Then  Mr.  McDowell,  the 


1.    Catalogue,  1897-1 


220  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

first  principal,  returned  and  served  until  his  death  in 
1881.  John  B.  Brewer,  A.  M.,  was  president  1881-96; 
Rev.  W.  O.  Petty,  1896-97;  John  C.  Scarborough,  A„ 
B.,  ex-superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  of  Nortli 
Carolina,  1897.  ^ 

During  these  fortj^-nine  years  of  its  existence  it  has 
never  closed.  In  this  time  it  has  sent  out  about  three 
hundred  graduates  ;  and  these  have  been  from  many  of 
the  Southern  States.  For  a  long  time  it  has  had  a 
faculty  of  about  ten  members,  and  has  given  instruction 
in  a  course  of  studies  about  the  same  as  that  of  Salem 
Female  Academy,  St.  Mary's  and  Greensboro  Female 
College.  It  has  all  the  time  been  under  the  influence  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  The  property  now  belongs  to  some 
of  the  members  of  the  Chowan  and  West  Chowan  Asso- 
ciations, and  is  worth  more  than  $50 ,000. ^ 

OXFORD    FEMALE    SEMINARY. 

This  school  opened  in  the  town  of  Oxford  in  1851,  and 
was  known  for  some  time  as  Oxford  Female  College.  At 
the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  1849  the  following  re- 
port was  made  :  ''The  necessity  of  establishing  a  Female 
College  for  the  State,  in  which  suitable  testimonials  of  a 
high  grade  of  scholarship  will  be  awarded,  is  seriously 
entertained  by  many  of  our  brethren  and  is  an  object 
worthy  of  their  united  and  zealous  efforts."  The  Con- 
vention of  1850  was  assured  by  the  town  of  Oxford  of  at 
least  $10,000,  if  the  college  would  be  located  there.  By 
the  same  convention  the  school  was  located  and  trustees 
were  appointed.  Elder  J.  J.  Jones  was  selected  as  agent.  He 


1.  Some  of  these  points  Are  given  also  by  Smith  in  liis  History  of  Education  in 
North  Carolina,  pp.  121-122;  Catalogues.  1887-1897;  Points  gotten  up  by  Rev.  M.  T. 
Plyler;  Letters  from  Presidents  Petty  and  Scarborough;  North  Carolina  Teacher 
January,  1889. 

2.  Catalogues,  1887-1897 ;  Letters  from  Presidents  Petty  and  Scarborough ;  Biblical 
Recorder,  December  8, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  221 

secured  a  charter  in  March,  1851.  Rev.  Samuel  Wait, 
D.  D.,  was  elected  president  in  April,  1851;  and  the 
school  began  July  21st  of  the  same  year.  In  June,  1852, 
the  financial  report  showed  a  debt  of  $9,001.42.  The 
trustees  then  employed  four  agents  in  succession,  but 
they  did  not  obtain  enough  money  to  pay  their  own 
salaries.  Dr.  Wait  took  the  field  in  1857,  but  met  with 
no  better  success.  The  college  was  in  a  bad  condition  ; 
it  had  no  money  and  less  credit.  At  this  emergency 
Mr.  J.  H.  Mills  made  the  trustees  an  offer  of  $5,000  for 
tha  whole  property.  This  proposition  was  accepted; 
and  the  school  became  a  private  institution,  which  it 
has  been  ever  since.  ^ 

Mr.  J.  H.  Mills  ran  the  college  until  January,  1861, 
when  a  part  was  sold  to  L.  R.  Mills  ;  and  from  then  until 
1868  it  was  kept  up  by  Mills  and  Company.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Phillips,  Rev.  R.  H.  Marsh,  Dr.  R.  H.  Lewis  and  others 
had  charge  of  it  until  1880.  ,  Then  F.  P.  Hobgood,  A. 
M. ,  purchased  the  property.  He  has  had  a  flourishing 
school  ever  since  under  the  name  of  Oxford  Female 
Seminary.* 

The  property  is  now  worth  about  $20,000.  The  faculty 
consists  of  t€u  members  ;  and  the  average  annual  en- 
rollment under  him  has  been  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
coming  from  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia.  The  course  of 
studies  is  about  the  same  as  those  of  the  female  colleges 
already  given.  The  terms  are  in  some  subjects  higher 
and  in  others  lower  than  in  many  of  the  female  schools 
of  the  State:  preparatory  English,  $30.00;  collegiate 
English,  $40.00  ;  Latin  and  French,  each,  $5.00  ;  Draw- 
ing, $30.00;  Painting,  $40.00;  Elocution  in  Class, 
$20.00 ;  Elocution  in  Class,  and  one  private  lesson  a 
week  additional,  $35.00;    Needle-work,  $15.00;  Instru- 


1.  Biblical  Recorder,  April  7, 1859 ;  Catalogue.  1861. 

2.  Catalogue,  iS61;  Letters  from  President  Hobgood. 


222  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

mental  Music,  from  the  professor,  $45.00;  Instrumental 
Music,  from  the  assistant,  $40.00;  Voice,  $40.00;  Use 
of  Piano,  li  hours  per  day,  $5.00.^ 

Prof.  Hobgood  has  been  in  the  educational  work  so 
long  and  has  performed  such  valuable  services,  that  he 
deserves  more  than  a  mere  passing  notice.  He  was  born 
in  Granville  county,  North  Carolina,  1847;  student  at 
Horner  School ;  graduated  at  Wake  Forest  College  in 
1868  ;  teacher  in  Oxford  Female  College  1868-69  ;  princi- 
pal of  the  Reidsville  High  School  1869-71  ;  teacher  in  the 
Raleigh  Baptist  Female  Seminary  1871  ;  president  of 
the  same  1871-80;^  president  of*  Oxford  Female  Semi- 
nary from  1881  to  the  present ;  president  of  the  North 
Carolina  Teachers'  Assembly  1894.'^ 

OAK    RIDGE    INSTITUTE. 

This  institution  is  now  North  Carolina's  largest  and 
best  training  school.  It  goes  back  to  1850  for  its  begin- 
ning. During  that  year  Dr.  John  Saunders,  Jesse  Ben- 
bow,  Allen  Lowrey,  James  B.  Clark,  Samuel  Donnell, 
Daniel  Pegram,  Robert  Bell,  Wyatt  Bowman,  T.  J.  Ben- 
bow,  and  other  citizens  of  the  northwestern  corner  of 
Guilford  county,  decided  to  have  a  high  school  in  that 
community.  They  chose  a  site  fifteen  miles  from  Greens- 
boro and  erected  a  building  sixty  feet  long  and  one  story 
high.  John  M.  Davis,  a  graduate  of  Emory  and  Henry 
College,  Virginia,  became  the  first  principal.  He  was  a 
fine  scholar  and  teacher,  and  the  school  was  soon  filled 
to  its  greatest  capacity.  Rev.  D.  R.  Bruton  had  charge 
in  1857.  After  him,  Mr.  T.  Whittington  and  a  Mr. 
Pickett  kept  it  up  till  the  Civil  War.     From  1861  to  1866 

1.  Catalogues.  1892-1897;  Letters  from  President  Hobgood. 

2,  Dowd's  Prominent  Living  North  Carolinians,  pp.  214-215;   Biblical  Recorder, 
December  8, 1897. 

8,    The  North  Carolinian,  May  21, 1896;  The  News  and  Observer,  August  21, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  223 

it  was  closed.  The  building  was  burned  in  1866,  but 
was  replaced  in  a  short  while.  Mr.  O.  C.  Hamilton  ran 
it  1866-69;  Pendleton  King  1869-71;  Rev.  Gideon  D. 
Hines,  one  session  of  1871  ;  W.  S.  Grouse  1872-75.  In 
the  fall  of  1875  J.  Allen  Holt,  A.  M.,  assumed  control 
and  the  school  entered  upon  its  new  and  great  career. ^ 
When  Prof.  Holt  began  in  1875  there  were  but  two 
small  rooms,  one  14x24,  the  other  26x24.  He  began 
work  with  great  earnestness,  and  w^as  full  of  correct 
educational  ideas.  There  were  forty  pupils  under  him 
the  first  year,  and  fifty  the  next.  From  this  small  be- 
ginning it  has  grown  until  it  has  had  for  some  time  an 
annual  enrollment  of  two  hundred  and  fifty.  In  the 
spring  of  1879  Martin  H.  Holt,  his  brother,  came  in  as 
associate  principal,  and  they  together  have  builded  a 
great  structure,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  high  schools 
in  the  whole  country.  As  their  patronage  has  increased 
they  have  multiplied  the  faculty,  equipment  and  build- 
ings. In  1884  the  chapel  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 
In  1891  the  Holt  Hall  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$12,000  ;  and  the  same  year  the  institution  was  incorpo- 
rated with  a  capital  stock  of  $51,600  and  with  power  to 
grant  diplomas.  The  course  of  studies  is  high  and  ex- 
tensive for  training  schools  in  the  South.  Students  who 
complete  the  regular  literary  course  enter  the  Sopho- 
more and  Junior  classes  of  the  best  colleges  and  the 
University  of  the  State.  ^  The  expenses  for  tuition  per 
session  of  nineteen  weeks  are :  Literary  department, 
$25.00  ;  Commercial  department,  $25.00  ;  Shorthand  and 
Typewriting,  $25.00  ;  Telegraphy,  $25.00;  Primary  de- 
partment, $15.00;  Surveying,  $10.00;  incidental  fee, 
$1.00  ;  graduation  fee,  $5.00 ;  library  fee  (to  members  of 
the  societies  nothing) ,  $3.50.^ 

1.    Oak  Leaf,  September.  18S4  ;  Catalogues.  188-2-1898. 

■I.    Ibid. 

».    Catalogue,  1897-18S8. 


224  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

The  educational  work  of  J.  Allen  and  Martin  H.  Holt 
has  been  distinguished  for  devotion  and  ability.  They 
themselves  have  become  well  known  throughout  the 
Carolinas  and  Virginia,  from  which  States  the  most  of 
their  students  have  come  ;  and  Oak  Ridge  Institute  is 
known  far  and  wide  through  the  South  and  Southwesc. 
They  have  opened  their  courses  to  the  rich  and  poor 
alike,  to  girls  as  well  as  boys.  They  have  worked  from 
the  standpoint  of  training  and  culture ;  and  though 
their  school  has  not  been  denominational,  still  it  has 
been  Christian-like.  They  charge  good  terms  and  have 
made  money,  still  have  given  numberless  charities.^ 

HORNER    SCHOOL. 

There  is  much  in  common  between  this  and  Bingham 
School,  Both  have  been  famous  classical  institutions. 
They  have  never  attempted  to  have  large  numbers. 
They  have  charged  high  prices  and  given  extensive 
classical  courses ;  and  have  cared  only  for  a  few.  A 
part  of  the  history  of  this  school  was  given  under  Horner 
and  Graves  at  Hillsboro.  As  has  been  stated,  the  school 
was  begun  by  James  Hunter  Horner,  M.  A.,  LL.  D.,  in 
Oxford,  in  1851.  Mr.  Horner  ran  the  school  as  sole 
principal  until  1870,  when  R.  H.  Graves,  A.  M.,  came  in 
as  co-principal.  Horner  and  Graves  kept  it  up  at  Oxford 
until  1874,  when  they  moved  to  Hillsboro.  In  1876  Mr, 
Horner  went  back  to  Oxford  ;  and  he  was  sole  principal 
from  this  until  his  death  in  1892.  Then  his  sons, 
Jerome  C.  Horner,  A.  M.,  and  Rev.  Junius  M.  Horner, 
B.  A.,  B.  D.,  took  charge  and  have  kept  it  up  since. ^ 

The  military  feature  was  first  introduced  in  1864,  and 
again  after  the  war  in  1875.     It  still  adheres  to  this  sys- 

1.  The  writer  has  been  a  pupil  and  a  teacher  in  the  Institute,  and  has  had  a  per- 
sonal acquaintance  for  eleven  years. 

2.  Catalogues,  1867, 1887-1898;  Letters  from  Principals  J.  C.  and  J.  M.  Horner. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  225 

tern.  There  were  sevent\^-five  pupils  each  year  before 
the  war,  and  there  have  been  about  one  hundred  and  ten 
since.  From  its  founding  more  than  three  thousand 
students  have  received  instruction  at  this  fountain  head, 
and  most  of  these  were  under  the  care  of  Mr.  James 
Hunter  Horner.  He  was  a  conspicuous  educator  for 
forty-one  years,  and  justly  ranks  amono;  the  immortals 
of  our  educational  history.  His  school  had  such  a  repu- 
tation for  good  honest  scholarship  and  training,  that 
pupils  came  from  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Maryland,  Virgina,  the  Carolinas,  Georgia, 
Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Texas,  Tennessee,  Ken- 
tucky, West  Virginia,  and  other  States.  Many  of  these 
have  taken  high  positions  in  the  various  avocations. 
George.  T.  Winston,  LL.  D.,  president  of  the  University 
of  Texas,  Rev.  Wilber  F.  Tillet,  D.  D.,  dean  of  the 
Theological  Department  of  Vanderbilt  University, 
Judges  George  Brown  and  R.  W.  Winston,  of  the  North 
Carolina  Superior  Court,  W.  W.  Fuller,  New  York,  are 
illustrations.  The  school  has  had  other  fine  talent  in 
Its  teaching  force  besides  the  principals.  Among  the 
teachers  have  been  A.  F.  Redd,  Porter  Paisley,  J.  A. 
Fishburne,  W.  R.  Webb,  and  Thomas  J.  Drewry.^ 

For  some  time  the  faculty  has  been  composed  of  six 
members.  These  are  in  every  case  well  trained.  The 
instructors  for  1897-1898  are:  J.  C.  Horner,  A.  M., 
Latin,  Mathematics;  C.  J.  Moore,  B.  S.  (V.  M.  I.), 
Mathematics,  Natural  Science;  J.  M.  Horner,  B.  A., 
B.  D.,  (Johns  Hopkins,  General  Theological  Seminary), 
Greek,  English  Grammar  ;  W.  T.  Shannonhouse,  B.  A. 
(University  of  Virginia) ,  Latin,  Mathematics ;  Miss 
Nina  Horner,  Music;  S.  D.  Booth,  M.  D.,  and  S.  H. 
Cannady,  M.  D.,  surgeons. ^     The   course  of  studies  in 

1.  Catalogue,  1890-1891,  historical  sketch ;  Letters  from  Principals  J.  C.  and  J.  M. 
Horner;  The  News  and  Observer.  August  21, 1897. 

2.  Catalogue,  1897-1898. 


226  'i'HE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Latin,  Mathematics,  Greek,  English,  Geography,  His- 
tory, Science,  is  high  enough  to  prepare  boys  for  en- 
trance into  any  American  college.  The  buildings  were 
enlarged  in  1880  and  again  in  1890,  so  that  eighty 
boarding  and  fifty  day  pupils  can  be  well  cared  for. 
The  expenses  per  year  amount  to  $272.00.^ 

CATAWBA    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  belongs  to  the  German  Reformed 
Church  of  North. Carolina.  Some  points  of  the  early 
history  of  this  church  have  already  been  given.  It  has 
had  a  gradual  growth  throughout  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. In  1889  it  had  a  pastoral  charge  in  Guilford, 
East  Rowan,  Catawba,  Concord,  Central  Rowan,  Lower 
Davidson,  Hickory,  West  Rowan,  Lincoln,  Upper  Da- 
vidson, St.  Paul's  Mission,  Lincoln  Mission,  Mt.  Tabor 
Mission  and  Thomasville.  To  serve  these  charges  there 
were  fifteen  ministers.^  The  ministers  of  the  church 
have  always  advocated  education,  but  the  circumstances 
of  the  members  have  been  such  that  in  many  cases  these 
views  have  not  been  well  carried  out.  In  addition  to 
Catawba  College,  Claremont  College  at  Hickory,  Pil- 
grim's Academy,  Arnold  Academy,  Hedricks  Grove 
Academy,  all  in  Davidson  county,  Mt.  Hope  Academy 
in  Guilford,  and  Faith  Academy  in  Rowan,  belong  in 
part  or  entirely  to  this  church. ^ 

As  early  as  1828  the  Classis  of  North  Carolina  was 
organized,  and  with  this  was  begun  a  fund  known  as  the 
Loretz  Beneficiary  Fund.  From  the  money  of  this  fund 
a  good  many  young  men  were  sent  North  for  their  educa- 
tion. It  was  a  long  distance  to  go  and  the  conveniences 
of  traveling  were  few.     Soon  the  plan  of  establishing  a 


1.  Catalogue,  1897-1898;  Letters  from  Principals  J.  C.  and  J.  M.  Horner. 

2.  Proceedings  of  the  Classis  of  North  Carolina,  1889. 
H.    Letter  from  President  Clapp. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  227 

college  in  North  Caroliua  was  proposed.  This  idea  was 
approved,  and  by  1851  they  had  opened  Catawba  Col- 
lege. Newton,  the  county  seat  of  Catawba  county,  was 
chosen  as  the  best  site.  Revs.  G.  H.  Crawford,  George 
W.  Welker,  Jeremiah  Ingold,  each  gave  for  the  buildings 
•i^lOO  out  of  their  salaries,  which  were  only  $300  a  year. 
This  great  generosity  caused  many  others  to  give  ;  and 
the  buildings  were  soon  erected.  This  was  the  first  in- 
stitution of  the  kind  in  Western  North  Carolina  and  its 
influence  soon  spread  far  and  wide.  However,  financial 
troubles  came  in  a  short  while,  and  the  college  curricu- 
lum and  faculty  were  displaced  by  a  high  school  equip- 
ment;  and  this  condition  continued  until  1860,  when 
about  $25,000  on  an  endowment  fund  were  secured. 
The  Civil  War  destroyed  this  and  closed  the  halls  of  the 
high  school.  1 

A  Rev.  Mr.  Albert,  from  Pennsylvania,  was  the  first 
president.  He  served  one  term  only,  and  was  followed 
by  H.  H.  Smith,  of  New  Hampshire,  the  father  of  Hon. 
Hoke  Smith,  of  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Mr.  Smith  held  the 
position  for  four  years.  A  Mr.  Smythe,  from  Maine, 
was  principal  1856-59.  Rev.  A.  S.  Vaughn,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, brought  back  the  college  curriculum  and  raised 
the  $25,000  endowment  1859-60.  In  1865  Rev.  J.  C. 
Clapp,  D.  D.,  reorganized  the  school  under  the  name  of 
Catawba  High  School.  In  1866  Major  Sidney  M.  Finger 
came  in  with  him,  and  remained  as  teacher  of  Math- 
ematics and  Latin  until  1874.  From  1874  to  the  sum- 
mer of  1885  Mr.  Clapp  ran  it  as  sole  principal.  At  this 
date  the  charter  and  name  of  Catawba  College  were  re- 
sumed. ^  Dr.  Clapp  was  then  elected  president,  and  he 
still  occupies  the  position.     He  has  been  connected  with 


1.  Church  Corinthian.  June,  1^97;  Catalogues,  1890-1897;  Letter  from  President 
Clapp. 

2.  Letter  from   President  Clapp;    Catalogues,  l«9<>-1897;   North  Carolina  State 
Normal  Magazine,  June,  1897.  p.  102. 


228  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

the  institution  so  long,  that  he  deserves  more  than  a 
mere  mention.  He  was  born  at  Clapp's  Mill,  Guilford 
county,  September  5tb,  1832;  student  under  Rev. 
George  W.  Welker,  D.  D.,  and  at  Catawba;  at  Amherst 
College  1853-57,  where  he  graduated;  connected  wdth 
Catawba  College  the  most  of  the  time  since  1859.^ 

The  college  now  has  a  small  endowment  fund,  about 
$11,000,  a  library  of  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  and  a 
faculty  of  twelve  members.  It  offers  courses  almost 
equal  to  those  of  Davidson,  Wake  Forest  and  Trinity  ; 
A.  B.  and  B,  S.  degrees  are  granted  to  women  as  well  as 
to  men.  The  annual  enrollment  for  the  past  seven  years 
has  been  from  one  hundred  and  forty  to  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two.  The  leading  teachers  since  1890  have 
been  :  Rev.  J.  C.  Clapp,  D.  D.,  Mental  and  Moral  Phil- 
osophy, Aesthetics,  Political  Economy,  1890- ;  Rev.  J. 
A.  Foil,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Mathematics,  Natural  Science, 
1890- ;  W.  H.  Thompson,  A.  B.,  Latin,  English,  1890- 
95;  W.  W.  Troup,  A.  M.,  Greek,  German,  History, 
1890-92;  C.  H.  Mebane,  A.  B.,  present  superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction  of  North  Carolina,  Greek,  German, 
History,  1893-96;  I.  S.  Leiby,  German,  1895- ;  Rev.  P. 
M.  Trexler,  D.  D.,  Greek,  History,  1897-.2 

WEAVERVILLE    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  is  located  in  the  town  of  Weaverville, 
eight  miles  northwest  of  Asheville.  It  was  chartered  as 
a  college  by  the  legislature  of  1872-1873.^  The  property 
belongs  to  the  Western  North  Carolina  Conference  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South;  and  the  Con- 
ference now  makes  an  annual  assessment  of  $1,500  for 
its  support. 4     The  college  is  the   outgrowth   of  the   Ma- 

1.  Letter  from  President  Clapp. 

2.  Catalogues,  1890-1898. 
8.    Catalogues,  1890-1897. 

4.    Minutes  of  the  Western  North  Carolina  Conference,  1897.  p.  31. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  -229 

sonic  and  Sons  of  Temperance  High  School,  cstciblished 
in  1852.  Rev.  J.  A.  Reagan,  M.  D.,  was  the  first  prin- 
cipal, and  held  the  ])Osition  until  1858.  Under  him  the 
.school  had  an  annual  enrollment  of  one  hundred  pupils. 
J.  H.  Colfee  was  principal  1858-1862,  when  the  doors 
were  closed  by  the  war.  A.  J.  McAlpinand  a  Mr.  Lewis 
were  the  principals  at  different  times  from  1866  to  1872. 
At  this  time  the  property  was  given  to  the  Methodist 
Church  and  the  institution  became  a  college.* 

Rev.  J.  A.  Reagan,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  was  elected  the  first 
president  of  the  college.  During  1872-1873  the  old 
building  was  burned,  and  the  school  was  carried  on  for 
a  time  in  the  church.  By  1875  a  new  building  was 
ready  ;  and  this  served  for  all  purposes  until  1894,  when 
a  still  larger  and  more  convenient  one  was  erected.  In 
1875  Dr.  Reagan  resigned  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Kennedy,  A. 
M.,  D.  D.,  became  president.  Dr.  Kennedy  held  the 
presidency  for  three  years;  Rev.  W.  C.  McCarthy,  A. 
M.,  1878-80;  E.  M.  Goolsby,  M.  A.,  1880-83;  Rev.  D. 
Atkins,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  1883-87;  Rev.  S.  B.  Tray  wick, 
1887-88;  Rev.  J.  F.  Austin,  1888-89;  M.  A.  Yost,  A. 
M.,  1889-.2  Dr.  Reagan  has  had  the  longest  connection, 
either  as  principal,  president  or  professor,  of  any  one  in 
its  whole  history.  He  w^as  its  real  founder  and  has  been 
its  best  friend. 

Since  1890  the  matriculates  each  year  have  numbered 
from  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  to  two  hundred  and 
thirty-five.  The  courses,  which  lead  to  A.  B.  and  B.  S. 
degrees,  are  about  the  same  as  those  of  Guilford,  Cataw- 
ba and  Elon,  and  are  open  to  both  sexes.  There  is  also  a 
preparatory  department  connected  with  the  college.  The 
terms  are  very  low,  tuition  in  the  college  course  for  ses- 
sion of  eighteen  weeks  being  only  $18.00.     The  faculty 


1.  Letter  from  Dr.  J.  A.  Reagan, 

2.  Ibid;  Catalogues,  1890-1897. 


230  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

has  always  been  small.  For  a  long  time  there  were  only 
two  teachers  besides  the  president ;  and  during  the  past 
six  years  there  have  been  five  with  the  president.  Since 
1891  they  have  been:  M.  A.  Yost,  A.  M.,  Ancient  and 
Modern  Languages  ;  J.  J.  Reagan,  A.M.,  Mathematics  ; 
J.  E.  Rheim,  A.M.,  Mental,  Moral  and  Natural  Sciences  ; 
Mrs.  N.  B.  McDowell,  A.  M.,  English,  Elocution  and 
preparatory  department;  Mrs.  M.  A.  Yost,  A.  M.,  Music 
and  Art.i 

NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLEGE. 

This  institution  belongs  to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  of  North  Carolina.  It  is  located  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Cabarrus  county,  nine  miles  from  Concord.  It  was  first 
opened  in  1855  under  the  name  of  the  Western  Carolina 
Male  Academy,  and  received  a  charter  as  North  Caro- 
lina College  January  21st,  1859.  Rev.  William  Gere- 
hard  was  principal  1855-58  ;  Rev.  D.  H.  Bittle,  D.  D., 
president  1858-61,  when  the  college  was  closed  on  ac- 
count of  the  war.  During  the  period  1861-1867  a  pri- 
vate school  was  kept  up  most  of  the  time.  Since  that 
time  the  presidents  have  been  :  Rev.  C.  F.  Bansemer, 
D.  D.,  1867-69;  Rev.  L.  A.  Bikle,  A.  M.,  acting  presi- 
dent, 1869-70;  Rev.  L.  A.  Bikle,  A.  M.,  1870-75;  Rev. 
J.  B.  Davis,  D.  D.,  1875-77;  Rev.  L.  A.  Bikle,  D.  D., 
1877-82;  Rev.  G.  D.  Bernheim,  D.  D.,  1882-83;  Rev. 
G.  F.  Shaeffer,  1884-86;  Rev.  J.  G.  Schaid,  1887-89; 
Rev.  J.  D.  Shirey,  D.  D.,  1889-96;  Rev.  M.  G.  G. 
Scherer,  A.  M.,  1896. ^ 

The  prime  movers  in  the  establishment  were  Revs.  J. 
A.  Linn,  W.  G.  Harter  and  Samuel  Roth  rock,  C.  Mel- 
choe,  Mathias  Barrier,  C.  A.  Heilig  and  John  Shim- 
poch.     Early  in  its  history  three  buildings  were  erected, 

1.  Catalogues,  1891-1897. 

2.  Ibid,  1871-1872, 1892-1897 ;  Letter  from  President  Scherer. 


SC^HOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  231 

and  later  aiiotlier,  and  they  all  have  a  valuation  of 
^15,000.  The  Synod  does  not  make  any  annual  appi'o- 
priation,  though  its  members  have  given  $15,000  as  an 
endowment.  In  addition  to  this  institution,  the  Luth- 
eran Church  has  in  this  State  Mount  Araoena  Female 
Seminary,  Lenoir  College,  Concordia  College  at  Cono- 
ver,  and  several  academies.  The  annual  enrollment  for 
some  time  has  been  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred. 
The  courses  lead  to  A.  B.  and  B.  S.  degrees,  and  they  are 
{is  high  as  those  of  Catawba  and  most  of  the  other  col- 
leges in  the  State.  However,  only  four  or  five  teachers 
have  been  in  the  faculty  at  any  one  time,  and  they  liave 
to  do  the  preparatory  work  also.  The  expenses  per  year 
are  from  $85.00  to  $137.00.  The  library  has  thirty-five 
hundred  volumes.  The  facult}^  for  the  past  few  years 
has  been  :  Rev.  J.  D.  Shirey,  A.  M.,  Mental  and  Moral 
Philosophy;  H.  T.  J.  Ludwig,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Mathe- 
matics, Astronomy,  Physics;  E.  B.  Setzler,  A.  M., 
Ancient  Languages  ;  Rev.  J.  H.  C.  Fisher,  A.  M.,  M.  A. 
Boger,  A.  B.,  and  Rev.  P.  H.  E.  Derrick,  A.  M.,  princi- 
pals of  the  preparatory  department;  Rev.  M.  G.  G. 
Scherer,  A.  M.,  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy. ^ 

DAVENPORT    COLLEGE. 

This  school  was  run  as  a  girls'  college  from  its  begin- 
ning in  1857  until  1893.  At  that  time  it  was  made  coed- 
ucational. As  early  as  1850  the  Presbyterians  of  Cald- 
well county  agitated  the  movement  of  establishing  a 
female  school  at  Lenoir.  The  Presbytery  of  Concord 
went  so  far  as  to  obtain  a  $10,000  subscription  for  the 
building.  This  plan  was  never  realized  by  the  Presby- 
terians, and  they  soon  located  their  school  at  Statesville. 
In    1853    the  Methodist  took    up    the   matter.     At   the 


1.    Letter  from  President  Scherer;  Catalogues,  18P2-1897. 


232  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Centre  Camp  Meeting,  October,  1855,  Rev.  Henry  Hill 
Durant  presented  the  subject  in  strong  terms,  and  a 
subscription  of  $12,000  was  made.  The  most  liberal 
givers  were  :  Col.  William  Davenport,  $2,000  at  first 
and  later  another  $1,000  ;  Col.  James  C.  Harper,  $1,310  ; 
Capt.  W.  A.  Lenoir,  $1,200;  James  Harper,  $1,000; 
Col.  E.  W.  Jones,  $750;  Uriah  Cloyd,  $600.  With  this 
money  they  erected  a  brick  structure,  at  a  cost  of  $9,800, 
purchased  sixteen  acres  of  land  and  furniture.  In  1857 
the  stockholders  offered  the  wdiole  property  to  the  South 
Carolina  Conference.  Tl.ie  Conference  accepted  the  offer, 
appointed  trustees,  and  elected  Rev.  H.  M.  Mood,  A.  M,, 
president.  1 

Mr.  Mood  began  to  make  preparations  for  the  open- 
ing. He  asked  the  trustees  to  erect  a  boarding  house. 
This  they  agreed  to  do,  and  another  subscription  of 
$3,000  was  taken  up.  In  July,  1858,  the  school  was 
opened  under  the  name  of  Davenport  Female  College. 
During  the  first  year  only  fifty-six  pupils  matriculated. 
However,  Mr.  Mood's,  administration  of  four  years  was 
very  successful.  He  resigned  in  1862  and  Rev.  R.  N. 
Price,  of  the  Holston  Conference,  succeeded  him.  Mr. 
Price  remained  but  one  year,  and  was  followed  by  Rev. 
A.  G.  Stacy.  When  Stoneman's  army  came  toward  the 
close  of  the  war,  Mr..  Stacy  took  his  school  to  Shelby, 
North  Carolina.  The  Federal  soldiers  occupied  the 
buildings  for  two  days,  pillaged  and  despoiled  the  library 
and  furniture,  and  left  little  but  the  naked  buildings. 
In  1865  the  school  was  again  organized  under  the  tem- 
porary charge  of  Rev.  George  H.  Round.  By  the  Confer- 
ence of  the  same  year  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Weber  was  elected 
president,  but  he  resigned  in  a  short  while.  Rev.  Joseph 
R.  Griffith  had  charge  1866-67,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Lander, 


1.    Manuscript  of  Mr.  J.  R.  Wilson.  Lenoir;  President  W.  M.  Rob}',  Centennial  of 
Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  19;5-200. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  233 

A.  M.,  1867-70.  Mr.  Lander's  term  of  office  was  very 
successful  and  the  college  became  prosperous.  How- 
ever, wlien  the  General  Conference  of  1870  transferred 
that  section  of  tlie  State  from  the  South  Carolina  to  the 
North  Carolina  Conference,  he  thought  it  best  to  retire. 
Most  of  the  patronage  had  been  from  South  Carolina, 
and  it  seemed  very  probable  that  this  change  would 
diminish  the  numbers  greatly.^ 

In  December,  1870,  Rev.  W.  M.  Robey,  D.  D.,  was 
elected  president.  When  he  took  hold  the  buildings 
needed  repairs,  and  the  trustees  sent  out  an  agent  to 
collect  funds.  Only  $1,300  were  secured,  and  $625  of 
this  were  used  in  paying  the  agent's  expenses.  The  col- 
lege now  belonged  to  the  North  Carolina  Conference  and 
expected  the  Conference  to  support  it.  In  this  expecta- 
tion it  was  much  disappointed.  Mr.  Robey  struggled 
on  as  best  he  could,  but  toward  the  close  of  his  adminis- 
tration he  had  but  one  boarding  pupil.  In  February, 
1877,  the  buildings  were  burned,  and  Mr.  Robey  retired. 
The  trustees  at  once  began  to  collect  money  with  which 
to  erect  a  new  building.  About  $3,000  were  subscribed 
in  Caldwell  county,  and  the  building  was  begun.  In 
1881  Rev.  George  H.  Round  was  elected  president,  but 
owing  to  the  unfinished  condition  of  the  building  he  re- 
signed in  1882.  Mr.  W.  H.  Sanborn  in  1884  leased  the 
property  for  fifteen  years,  and  ran  a  fairly  successful 
school  until  1889.  At  that  time  he  was  asked  to  give 
back  the  property  to  the  trustees.  In  June  of  that  year 
John  D.  Minick,  A.  M.,  became  president,  and  he  has 
kept  the  school  up  to  the  present.  By  the  Conference  of 
1889  $1,000  were  appropriated  to  repair  the  building, 
of  which  about  $625  were  collected  and  expended.  Under 
the  present  administration  there  have  been  five  teachers 


1.    President  W.  M.  Robey,  Centennial  of  Methodism  in  North  Carolina,  pp.  201- 
2C2;  Manuscript  of  Mr.  J,  R.  Wilson. 


234  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

and  about  eighty  pupils.  Since  the  war  the  patronage 
has  been  for  the  most  part  local.  However,  the  institu- 
tion has  had  a  considerable  influence  on  that  section, 
and  throughout  its  trials  and  successes  it  has  had  an  in- 
teresting history.^ 

LOUISBURG    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  is  located  in  the  town  of  Louisburg. 
It  was  chartered  in  1857.  However,  it  had  been  running 
as  a  small  school  since  1845.  Mr.  A.  H.  Ray  was  in 
charge  from  1845  to  1856.  His  building  was  small  until 
the  present  commodious  one  was  erected  in  1855—1857. 
Mr.  J.  P.  Nelson  was  president  1857-58 ;  Columbus  An- 
drews, 1858-61  ;  James  Southgate,  1861-65.  It  was 
closed  by  the  war,  and  was  not  reopened  until  Dr.  T.  M. 
Jones  removed  Greensboro  Female  College  to  the  build- 
ing in  January,  1866.  Dr.  Jones  had  about  two  hun- 
dred boarding  pupils,  the  largest  number  the  institution 
has  ever  had.  In  June,  1869,  he  went  to  Warrenton. 
Rev.  F.  L.  Reid,  D.  D.,  was  president  1877-78.  From 
this  until  1889  the  college  was  closed,  and  a  high  school 
was  run  in  the  building.  Among  the  teachers  of  this 
period  of  high  school  work  were  W.  B.  Doub  and  B.  W. 
Ray.  Mr.  S.  D.  Bagley  reopened  it  as  a  college  in  1889 
and  kept  it  for  five  years.  Rev.  J.  A.  Green  was  presi- 
dent 1894-1896,  and  Mathew  S.  Davis  from  1896  to  the 
present.  It  has  been  run  under  the  care  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  though  the  church  has  given  nothing  to  its 
support.  For  some  time  the  property  has  in  theory  be- 
longed to  a  stock  company  of  Louisburg.  Mr.  Washing- 
ton Duke  is  the  real  owner  by  virtue  of  money  loaned 
by  him  to  the   school.     It   had   gone    dowji    very    much 

1.  Catalogues,  1872-1873,  1893-1897;  Manuscript  of  Mr.  J.  R.  Wilson;  Journal  of 
the  North  Caralina  Conference,  1889,  p.  37;  Dowd's  Prominent  Living  North  Caro- 
linians, pp.  192-194. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  .  235 

when  Mr.  Green  was  in  charge,  but  during  the  past  year 
under  Mr.  Davis  and  his  daughter  the  patronage  has 
again  increased.  The  faculty  for  the  past  nine  years 
has  been  composed  of  about  seven  teachers.^ 

STATESVILLE    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  was  established  by  the  Concord  Pres- 
bytery in  1857.  As  to  who  were  the  first  principals  the 
writer  has  not  found  out.  Rev.  J.  M.  M.  Caldwell  took 
charge  some  time  during  the  war  and  ran  it  till  he  came 
to  Greensboro  in  1868.  From  1868  to  1872  Rev.  E.  F. 
Rockwell,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  was  president.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
N.  Grant  and  Miss  Margaret  E.  Mitchell,  daughters  of 
Prof.  Elisha  Mitchell,  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, were  in  charge  from  1873  to  1884  ;  and  it  was  dur- 
ing this  time  that  the  school  won  its  reputation.  In 
1885  Miss  Fannie  Everitt  assumed  control  and  main- 
tained its  reputation,  but  she  retired  in  1894.  From 
that  till  1896  it  was  closed.  In  the  fall  of  1896  John  B. 
Burwell,  A.  M.,  became  president.  The  college  has 
again  begun  to  manifest  life  and  influence.  The  prop- 
erty is  now  worth  $30,000.  He  has  a  faculty  of  nine 
teachers,  and  has  offered  a  course  of  studies  best  suited 
to  the  training  of  girls  at  very  low  terms.  He  has  had 
one  of  the  largest  experiences  in  female  education  of 
any  living  North  Carolinian.  He  was  co-principal  of 
the  Charlotte  Female  Institute  for  ten  years  and  princi- 
pal of  Peace  Institute  for  eighteen. ^ 

RUTHERFORD    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  is  unique  among  the  schools  of  North 
Carolina.     It  has    been   the   college   of  one   man.   Rev. 


1.  Letter  from  President  M.  S.  Davis;  Catalogues.  1893-1897;  Dr.  Jones'  Journal; 
Manuscript  sketch  of  Dr.  Reid. 

2.  Letter  from  Mr.  S.  C.  Caldwell.  Tallahasse.  Florida;  Semi-Centennial  cata- 
logue of  Davidson  College,  p.  15;  Letter  from  President  J.  B.  Burwell ;  Catalogues, 
I.s9t>-1898;  Dowd's  Prominent  Living  North  Carolinians,  pp.  212-213;  North  Carolina 
Teacher,  May,  1885, 


236  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

Robert  L.  Abernetby,  D.  D.  It  was  begun  as  a  private 
scbool  in  1854,  and  so  it  bas  remained  to  tbe  present. 
Mr.  John  Rutherford  gave  six  hundred  acres  of  forest 
Land,  ten  miles  east  of  Morgan  ton,  in  1853  ;  and  on  this 
Mr.  Abernetby  opened  his  school.  In  1858  it  was  char- 
tered as  Rutherford  Academy.  In  1861  its  name  was 
changed  to  Rutherford  Seminary  and  power  was  given 
to  grant  degrees.  It  continued  under  this  name  until 
1870,  when  it  was  made  a  college.  The  first  building 
was  a  double  log  cabin.  Soon  this  was  replaced  by  a 
larger  structure.  From  its  beginning  to  1890  the  insti- 
tution was  very  flourishing.  At  that  time  the  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  since  troubles  have  come 
thick  and  fast.  This  fire,  the  debt  incurred  in  erecting 
the  present  building  and  the  death  of  the  great  founder 
soon  afterwards,  have  alinost  taken  away  the  very  exist- 
ence of  the  school.  William  E.  Abernetby,  A.  M.,  as- 
sumed the  presidency  upon  the  death  of  his  father. 
Several  times  during  the  past  seven  years  it  seemed  that 
Rutherford  College  would  be  no  longer  except  in  memory.  ^ 
Dr.  R.  L.  Abernetby  was  its  head  for  about  forty  years  ; 
and  though  he  did  not  maintain  a  school  of  much  scholar- 
ship, still  he  made  himself  one  of  the  greatest  characters 
in  our  whole  educational  history.  He  was  born  in  Lin- 
coln county.  North  Carolina,  April  3rd,  1822  ;  educated 
himself;  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference  ; 
given  A.  M.  by  Trinity  College  1880,  and  D.  D.  by  Alfred 
University,  New  York;  died  November  28th,  1894. 
During  his  term  of  office  about  four  thousand  students 
matriculated,  of  whom  as  many  as  fifteen  hundred  paid 
no  tuition.  He  made  money,  but  he  gave  it  away,  and 
died  poor.  His  whole  life  had  been  w^rapped  up  in  his 
school,  still  he  had  to  leave  this  $1,500  in  debt.^ 

1.  Catalogues,  1874, 1884, 1892, 1895-1897. 

2.  Catalogue,  1892-1893, 1895-18i>6;  Dowd's  Prominent  Living  Nortli  Carolinians, 
pp  207-209;  Letter  from  President  W.  E.  Abernetliy. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  237 


MOUNT    AMO^NA    FEMALE    SEMINARY. 

The  idea  of  having  a  college  for  women  was  discussed 
by  the  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  Churcli  as  early  as  1860. 
Even  before  this  date  Rev.  George  F.  Schaeffer  and  Mrs. 
D.  H.  Bittle  had  a  high  school  for  girls  in  Mt.  Pleasant. 
The  war  interfered  with'the  plan,  and  nothing  was  done 
toward  founding  the  college  until  1868.  At  the  Synod 
of  that  year  Rev.  G.  D.  Bernheim,  D.  D.,  who  had  been 
conducting  a  school  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  offered  to  turn  over 
his  property  to  the  churcli.  The  Synod  accepted  the 
offer  and  appointed  Dr.  Bernheim  financial  agent.  He 
soon  secured  enough  money  to  pay  off  the  indebtedness 
on  the  buildings.  When  the  property  was  given  over  to 
the  Synod  it  was  w^orth  about  $3,500;  since  that  im- 
provements have  given  it  a  value  of  $5,000.^ 

Dr.  Bernheim  remained  agent  but  one  year.  Rev.  D. 
I.  Dreher  followed  him  in  1869  and  served  till  his  death 
in  1870.  W.  A.  Barrier  w^as  principal  1870-72  ;  Misses 
H.  V.  and  M.  Ribble,  1872-74;  Rev.  P.  A.  Strobel, 
1874-75  ;  L.  H.  Rothrock,  1875-82  ;  Rev.  G.  F.  Schaeffer, 
1882-84  ;  Rev.  J.  A.  Linn,  1884-92  ;  Rev.  C.  L.  T.  Fisher, 
1892-97;  Rev.  H.  N.  Miller,  Ph.  D.,  1897. ^  These 
principals  have  been  assisted  by  from  eight  to  ten  teach- 
ers. The}^  have  offered  about  the  usual  courses  for  girls 
in  North  Carolina  schools  of  this  kind,  and  do  not 
charge  but  $150  per  year  for  board  and  tuition  in  all 
subjects.  Their  patronage  has  been  from  several  South- 
ern States,  though  in  the  main  from  the  Carolinas  ;  and 
for  the  past  few  years  the  annual  enrollment  has  been 
one  hundred.^ 

1.  Letter  from  Rev.  J.  H.  C.  Fisher;  the  Mount  Amoenian,  September-October 
1897. 

2.  Letters  from  Revs.  J.  H.  C.  Fisher  and  H.  N.  Miller;  the  Mount. Amoenian.  Sep- 
tember-October, 1897. 

i.    Catalogues,  1894-1897;  letter  from  Mr.  Fisher. 


238  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 


PEACE    INSTITUTE. 

This  school  was  opened  at  Raleigh  in  1872.  It  i« 
claimed  by  some  that  it  had  its  beginning  at  Hillsboro 
in  1837.  It  is  true  that  Rev.  Robert  Burwell,  D.  D., 
began  a  school  for  girls  at  Hillsboro  at  that  early  date, 
and  that  he  taught  there  until  1857,  when  he  went  to 
Charlotte  and  established  the  Charlotte  Female  Insti- 
tute. It  is  also  true  that  after  teaching  in  CharloUe 
for  fifteen  years,  ten  of  which  he  had  been  associated 
with  his  son,  Capt.  Jol\n  B.  Burwell,  he  moved  to  Ral- 
eigh in  1872,  and  that  he  and  his  son  became  the  first 
principals  of  Peace  Institute.  It  is  better,  however,  to 
place  the  date  of  the  beginning  of  this  school  in  1872, 
and  to  mention  the  teaching  of  the  Burwells  elsewhere 
in  its  proper  place,  as  has  been  done.^ 

It  was  the  original  intention  that  this  be  a  school  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Atkinson, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Raleigh, 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  this  idea.  Mr.  William  Peace, 
of  Raleigh,  off'ered  to  give  $10,000,  and  others  gave 
smaller  amounts.  The  institution  was  incorpoi'ated  in 
1857,  and  the  building  was  begun.  The  war  came  and 
put  an  end  to  the  enterprise  for  the  time.  The  build- 
ing, which  was  only  partly  finished,  was  used  by  the 
Confederates  as  a  hospital  for  three  years  ;  and  after  the 
w^ar  the  Federals  used  it  for  a  freedman's  bureau.  Then 
the  money  subscribed  could  not  be  collected  and  for 
some  time  ic  seemed  as  if  the  whole  affair  would  fall 
through.  However,  a  new  subscription  was  taken  and 
the  property  was  mortgaged  to  secure  money  with  which 
to  complete  the  building.  This  was  finished  and  ready 
for  occupancy  by  1872  ;  and  it  was  constructed  of  brick , 


1.    Letters  from  Principal  Dinwiddle,  and  Capt.  J.  B.  Burwell;  the  North  Caro- 
lina University  Magazine,  February,  1894. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  239 

four  stories  high,  and  contained  parlors,  library,  music 
rooms,  recitation  rooms,  an  art  studio,  fifty-seven  bed- 
I'ooms.  The  buildings  and  grounds  were  worth  about 
$60,000.  •  In  1872  the  property  was  leased  to  Rev.  Rob- 
ert Burwell,  D.  D.,  and  Capt.  John  B.  Burwell,  A.  M. 
In  September  of  that  year  the  first  term  was  begun.  So 
that  from  its  beginning  it  has  been  run  as  a  private  in- 
stitution. ^ 

The  Burwells  had  had  fine  success  at  Charlotte,  and 
soon  the  institute  became  prosperous.  They  secured  a 
fine  faculty,  among  whom  were  S.  J.  Stevens  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Natural  Sciences  and  A.  Bauman  of  Music. 
They  enrolled  during  the  year  1872-1873  one  hundred 
and  four  pupils,  and  from  that  on  the  number  increased 
each  year.  They  entered  into  the  work  as  a  private 
afi'air,  to  educate  as  well  as  possible  and  to  make  as  much 
money  as  they  could.  In  1875  Rev.  Robert  Burwell  re- 
tired as  co-principal  and  Capt.  John  B.  Burwell  was  sole 
principal  until  1889.  At  that  time  he  sold  his  interest 
to  James  Dinwiddie,  A.  M.,  and  retired  to  his  country 
home.  During  his  administration  the  institution  won  a 
high  place  and  its  patronage  came  from  the  whole  South. ^ 

Prof.  Dinwiddie  has  had  a  long  and  valuable  experi- 
ence in  school  work.  He  graduated  at  Hampden-Sidney 
College  1858  and  at  the  University  of  Virginia  1861  ; 
professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  South  Western  Presby- 
terian University  for  ten  years  ;  professor  of  the  same  in 
the  University  of  Tennessee  ;  founder  of  Central  Female 
Institute,  Gordonsville,  Virginia.  During  his  manage- 
ment of  Peace  Institute  there  has  been  an  average  an- 
nual enrollment  of  one  hundred  and  sixty -six.  He  has 
nine  teachers  in  the  literary  department,  two  in  Art  and 


1,  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead.  Vol.  III.,  pp.  313-816;  Letters  from  Capt.  J.  B.  Bur- 
well; The  North  Carolina  University  Magazine,  February, 18&4;  Tlie  North  Carolina 
Journal  of  Education,  August.  1S75. 

2.  Ibid. 


240  'J'HE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

six  in  Music.  The  advertised  courses  are  as  liigh  as 
those  of  any  of  the  female  schools  of  the  State.  The  ex- 
])enses  for  half  year  are:  board,  English  tuition  and 
Latin  $100  ;  washing  $7.50;  medical  fee  $5.00;  Greek, 
French  or  German,  each  $10.00;  Music  $25.00-$85.00  ; 
Art  $20.00-$25.00;  Elocution  $10.00-$20.00 ;  subjects 
in  the  Business  Course,  each  $15.00~$20.00.i 

CLAREMONT    COLLEGE. 

This  school  for  women  was  established  at  Hickory  in 
1880.  While  a  good  many  of  its  builders  were  of  the 
German  Reformed  Chui'ch,  still  it  is  under  an  independ- 
ent board  of  trustees  and  is  run  as  a  non-sectarian  insti- 
tution. The  property  is  valued  at  $30,000;  and  this 
was  purchased  for  the  most  part  by  H.  W.  Robinson,  W. 
P.  Reiuhardt,  A.  Shuford,  R.  B.  Davis,  J.  G.  Hall,  M. 
L.  McCorkle,  and  Dr.  Ingold.  Tliey  have  offered  exten- 
sive collegiate  courses,  upon  the  completion  of  which  an 
A.  B.,  L.  B.,  or  S.  B.  degree  is  given.  There  is  also  a 
preparatory  department.  The  expenses  per  term  in  the 
college  courses  amount  to  $75.00,  German,  French, 
Music  or  Art  being  extra  and  at  a  cost  of  $20.00  each. 
The  faculty  for  some  time  has  been  composed  of  nine 
teachers;  and  the  annual  enrollment  has  been  from  one 
hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  presidents  have 
been:  Rev.  A.  S.  Vaughn,  Mrs.  V.  R.  Bonney,  A.  C. 
Hottenstein,  W.  H.  Sanborn,  Rev.  J.  L.  Murphy  and  S. 
P.  Hatton.2 

LITTLETON    FEMALE    COLLEGE. 

Very  little  has  been  found  out  about  this  school.  It 
seems  to  have  had  very  little  history.     The   writer  has 

1     Letter  from  Principal  Diinviddie;  Catalogues,  1890-1807;  The  North  Carolina 
University  Magazine,  February.  1894. 
2.    Letter  from  President  Hatton  ;  Catalogues,  1896-1898. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  241 

again  and  again  written  to  President  Rhodes  for  infor- 
mation, but  with  one  exception  he  has  shown  his  su- 
preme indifference.  He  is  either  ashamed  of  the  record 
he  has  made  for  his  school  or  has  a  queer  idea  of  com- 
mon courtesy.  The  institution  was  first  chartered  in 
1883  under  the  name  of  Central  Female  Institute.  Un- 
der this  name  it  ran  for  about  four  years.  Rev.  J.  M. 
Rhodes,  A.  M.,  was  its  principal.  He  then  ran  the  Hen- 
derson Female  College  for  a  short  while.  After  this  he 
came  back  to  Littleton  and  established  the  Littleton 
Female  College  ;  and  since  then  he  has  been  the  presi- 
dent and  for  the  most  part  tlie  owner.  He  has  erected 
a  good  building,  and  has  given  some  of  the  stock  to  the 
North  Carolina  Conference.  However,  the  school  still 
remains  largely  under  his  control.  For  some  time  he 
has  had  a  faculty  of  nine  teachers,  all  ladies,  and  has 
secured  a  patronage  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred 
and  six  pupils.  His  advertised  courses  are  about  as 
high  as  those  of  most  of  the  girls'  schools  already  con- 
sidered. His  expenses  per  term  are:  board,  w^ashing, 
fuel,  lights  and  tuition  in  English  course  and  languages, 
.1^75.00;  Instrumental  Music  $20.00;  Voice  $20.00;  Art. 
each  subject  from  $5.00  to  $20.00.i 

ST.  Mary's  college. 

This  is  the  only  Catholic  college  south  of  Maryland, 
except  the  one  at  Mobile,  Alabama.  In  1876  Rev.  Fr. 
Herman  Wolf  and  some  Benedictine  brothers  came  to 
Gaston  county  from  St.  Vincent  Abbey  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  located  at  Belmont,  eleven  miles  southwest  of  Char 
lotte,  and  at  once  began  to  work.  By  1878  these  Bene- 
dictine Fathers  at  the  solicitation  of  Cardinal  Gibbons 


1.  The  North  Carolina  Teacher,  May,  1885;  Catalogues,  1890-1898;  Catalogue  of 
Henderson  Female  College,  1888;  Journal  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  1897, 
pp.  4.>46. 


242  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

began  the  erection  of  a  college  building.  In  1881  the 
first  graduate  was  sent  out,  Hugli  McHugli ;  and  from 
1882  to  1896  eighty- nine  more  have  gone  forth.  There 
is  a  monastery  connected  with  the  college,  and  this  was 
raised  to  an  abbey  by  Pope  Leo  XIII.  in  1885.  At  the 
same  time  Rev.  Leo  Haid  was  elected  first  abbot,  and 
since  then  St.  Mary's  College  has  been  under  his  per- 
sonal supervision.  1 

The  buildings  and  church  are  now  worth  about  $140,000. 
Some  of  this  w^as  obtained  from  donations,  but  a  large 
part  came  from  tuition  and  board.  On  April  1st,  1886, 
the  institution  received  a  charter  with  all  the  privileges 
of  a  North  Carolina  college  or  university.  The  courses 
now  offered  are  :  preparatory,  commercial,  classical  and 
divinity.  There  have  been  for  some  time  fourteen 
teachers  ;  and  these  are  all  priests  or  clergymen  in  Holy 
orders.  The  annual  enrollment  for  the  past  four  years 
has  been  almost  one  hundred.  While  the  college  was 
established  for  the  training  of  Catholic  young  men  in  the 
South,  still  all  denominations  can  enter  and  take  the 
college  courses.  The  institution  has  no  endowment 
fund,  hence  expenses  are  high.^ 

ELON    COLLEGE. 

This  institution  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  It 
was  opened  September  2nd,  1890,  and  is  located  on 
the  North  Carolina  Railroad,  five  miles  west  of  Burling- 
ton. While  it  is  a  young  institution  and  belongs  to  a 
church  that  is  by  no  means  large,  still  it  has  had  a  rapid 
and  sure  growth.  A  few  points  of  the  history  of  this 
church  will  help  explain  the  circumstances  of  the  col- 
lege.    The  church  goes  back  to  the  Baltimore  Confer- 


1.  J.  S.  Bassett's  A  North  Carolina  Monastery,  Magazine  of  American  History, 
1893.  XXIX.;  Letter  from  Vice-President  F.  Bernard,  O.  S.  B. ;  Gastonia  Gazette, 
April  8,  1897. 

2.  Ibid;  Catalogues,  1894-1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  243 

ence  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1792  for  its 
origin.  At  that  meeting  Rev.  James  0 'Kelly  revolted 
against  the  tyranny  of  the  Bisliop  ;  and  he  and  about 
thirty  other  members  sent  in  their  resignation.  In  1793 
Mr.  O 'Kelly  and  several  others  who  had  withdrawn  from 
the  Conference  held  a  convention  in  Manakin  Towm, 
North  Carolina.  At  this  place  they  organized  under  the 
name  of  Republican  Methodists.  The  next  year  this 
opposition  party  held  their  meeting  at  Lebanon  Church, 
Surry  county,  Virginia,  and  it  was  here  that  the  name 
Christian  was  first  assumed.  ^ 

In  the  beginning  of  this  century  there  was  a  similar 
revolt  against  the  tyranny  of  the  Synods  and  Conven- 
tions of  the  Presbyterians  and  Baptists.  These  revolt- 
ers  also  assumed  the  name  of  Christians.  From  that 
time  on  they  have  grown,  though  slowly.  The  church 
now  has  in  the  whole  of  the  United  States  about  130,- 
000  members,  of  whom  the  South  has  25,000,  1,550  min- 
isters, ten  colleges  and  several  high  schools.  In  1818 
the  first  regular  convention  was  held  at  Holy  Neck,  Vir- 
ginia, and  in  1819  this  convention  was  named  the  East- 
ern Virginia  Conference.  The  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia Conference  was  organized  a  little  later.  This 
church  has  thoroughly  believed  in  education,  and  that 
too  of  both  sexes  alike.  Among  its  best  schools  in  the 
North  are  :  Union  Christian  College,  Marion,  Indiana; 
Antioch  College,  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio;  Starkey  Semi- 
nary, Eddy  town,  New  York.  The  three  leading  ones  in 
the  South  have  been  :  Graham  Institute,  founded  in  1852  ; 
Suffolk  Collegiate  Institute,  1872  ;  and  Elon  College. ^ 

Elon  College  is  the  outgrowth  of  Graham  Institute. 
This  was  established  at  Graham  in  1852.     It  was  carried 


1.  Hurley's  Christians  Not  Disciples,  pp.  9-36;  The  Christian  Annual  and  Alma- 
nac, 1K96;  The  Centennial  Christian  Sun,  Decemljer  6. 1894. 

•J.  Hurley's  Christians  Not  Disciples,  pp.  9-3»);  The  Christian  Annual  and  Alma- 
nac, lSft'2-1896;  Christian  Sun,  December  6, 1891. 


244  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATK 

on  with  much  success  by  Revs.  J.  R.  Holt,  A.  G.  Ander- 
son, Job  Swift,  Ml".  Arcliibald  Ray,.  Rev.  W.  H.  Doherty 
and  Col.  T.  H.  Brame,  to  1861.  During  the  war  the 
school  was  closed  and  the  property  sold.  Rev.  W.  S. 
Long,  A.  M.,  reopened  the  school  in  1865,  and  soon 
afterwards  purchased  the  property.  Rev.  D.  A.  Long, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  bought  it  in  1875.  In  1880  it  was  char- 
tered as  Graham  Normal  College  In  1883  Dr.  D.  A. 
Long  became  president  of  Antioch  College,  and  Rev.  W. 
S.  Long,  A.  M.,  I).  D.,  again  became  principal.  He 
kept  up  the  institution  as  a  private  affair  until  June 
10th,  1887,  when  the  property  was  leased  to  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Christian  Church,  South.  At  a  General  Con- 
vention of  the  church  in  1888  it  was  decided  to  choose 
another  location  and  to  erect  larger  buildings.  Tlie  site 
was  chosen  in  1888,  and  a  charter  secured  March  11th, 
1889.  The  first  brick  was  laid  May  20th,  1889,  and  by 
August  1st,  1890  the  buildings  were  finished. ^ 

The  college  exercises  began  September  2nd,  1890.  Dr. 
W.  S.  Long  was  elected  the  first  president,  and  he  held 
this  position  with  much  success  until  June,  1894.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Staley,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  became  his  successor;  and 
is  still  president  in  name,  though  in  reality  the  adminis- 
tration is  carried  on  by  Rev.  J.  0.  Atkinson.  The 
courses  offered  lead  to  Ph.  B.,  A.  B.,  and  A.  M.  degrees  ; 
and  they  are  high  enough  to  admit  students  into  the 
Senior  class  at  the  University  of  the  State.  These  are 
open  to  young  women  as  well  as  men.  The  faculty  has 
been  composed  of  from  seven  to  ten  members.  The  male 
members  have  been:  Rev.  W.  S.  Long,  A.  M.,  D.  D., 
Moral  Philosophy,  Biblical  Instruction  and  Social 
Sciences,  1890-94;  Rev.  J.  U.  Newman,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D., 
Greek,  Mathematics,  1890- ;  Rev.  J.  0.  Atkinson,  A.  M., 


1.    Catalogue  of  Graham  Normal  College,  188^-1884;   Catalogues,  1890-1898;  Thd 
North  Carolina  Teacher,  September,  1887. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  245 

Latin,  Moral  Science,  1890- ;  E.  L.  Moffitt,  A.  M.,  Eng- 
lish, French,  German,  1890-95  ;  S.  A.  Holleman,  Ph.  B., 
preparatory  department  1890-94,  Mathematics,  1894- ; 
R.  G.  Kendrick,  A.  M.,  adjunct  of  Latin  and  German, 
1892;  Herbert  Scholz,  A.  B.,  adjunct  of  English  and 
Political  Science,  1892;  J.  M.  Bandy,  A.  M.,  Mathe- 
matics, 1893;  W.  P.  Lawrence,  Ph.  B.,  English,  1894- ; 
Rev.  W.  C.  Wicker,  M.  A.,  Natural  Science,  preparatory 
department,  1897.-^ 

LENOIR    COLLEGE. 

This  school  was  opened  at  Hickory  September  1st, 
1891,  and  for  one  year  was  known  as  Highland  College. 
There  had  been  an  academy  on  the  same  site  for  some 
time,  and  the  college  used  the  old  building  for  a  short 
while.  Col.  Walter  W.  Lenoir  gave  the  site  and  grounds 
near  by,  and  the  college  assumed  his  name.  In  1892  the 
trustees  erected  a  large  brick  structure,  two  stories  high, 
100x125  feet.  On  January  4th  of  the  same  year  the  in- 
stitution was  incorporated  and  granted  the  usual  powers 
of  North  Carolina  colleges.  Rev.  R.  A.  Yoder,  A.  M., 
became  the  first  president,  and  he  still  s-erves  in  this 
capacity.- 

He  has  placed  around  liimself  a  faculty  of  from  five 
to  nine  teachers.  The  institution  offers  primary,  pre-, 
paratory,  collegiate,  theological  and  music  departments, 
and  grants  A.  B.  and  B.  S.  degrees.  The  annual  num- 
ber of  matriculates  for  the  seven  years  of  its  existence 
has  been  from  one  hundred  and  three  to  one  hundred 
and  seventy,  and  these  have  been  of  both  sexes.  The 
principal  teachers  have  been  :  Rev.  R.  A.  Yoder,  A.M., 
Psychology,  Logic  ;  Rev.  J.  C.  Moser,  D.  D.,  Latin  ;  Rev. 


1.  Catalogues,  181K>-1898. 

2.  The  Educator.  Hickory,  February,  1893;  Letter  from  President  Yoder;  Cata- 
logues, 1892-1897. 


246  THE  CHURCH  AND  PRIVATE 

A.  L.  Grouse,  A.  M.,  German,  Theology;  Rev.  W.  P. 
Gline,  Ph.  B.,  Science,  History;  Rev.  J.  P.  Miller,  A. 
B.,  Greek,  English;  Rev.  R.  L.  Fritz,  A.  M.,  Mathe- 
matics. Taken  as  a  whole  it  is  one  of  the  finest  insti- 
tutions of  learning  in  Western  North  Carolina.  It  is 
under  the  management  of  the  Tennessee  Synod  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  distinctly  a  Chris- 
tian college.^ 

ELIZABETH    COLLEGE. 

This  is  the  only  real  college  for  women  in  North  Caro- 
lina. Whether  it  can  succeed  with  such  extensive  courses 
can  not  yet  be  said.  It  opened  in  October,  1897,  and  is 
located  in  Charlotte.  It  was  established  and  built  for 
the  most  part  by  the  Lutheran  Church.  It  has  a  plant 
worth  $75,000.  The  city  of  Charlotte  gave  the  site  and 
$10,000  on  the  building.  The  building  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  best  adapted  in  the  whole  State.  The  original 
contract  for  the  naked  structure  called  for  $48,790  ;  and 
this  did  not  include  the  engine,  dynamo  and  stained 
glass  windows.  The  college  courses  lead  to  A.  B.,  B.  S., 
and  B.  L.  degrees  ;  and  for  those  who  can  not  stand  the 
entrance  examinations  to  the  Freshman  class  there  is  a 
preparatory  department.  The  advertised  courses  are  as 
high  as  those  of  the  best  boys'  colleges  in  the  State.- 

The  faculty  have  all  had  fine  training,  in  most  cases 
having  been  University  students:  Rev.  C.  B.  King,  A. 
M.,  president,  Moral  Philosophy  ;  Rev.  C.  L.  T.  Fischer, 
A.  M.,  vice-president,  Greek;  Julia  E.  Painter,  Ph.  D., 
English;  Rev.  R.  L.  Fritz,  A.  M.,  Mathematics,  As- 
tronomy; A.  W.  Fogle,  A.  M.,  Ancient  Languages;  D. 
F.  Culler,  A.  M.,  German,  French,  Italian,  Spanish  ; 
Edwin  B.  Setzler,  A.  M.,  Natural  and  Political  Sciences  ; 


1.  The  Educator,  Hickory,  February,  1898;  Letter  from  President  Yoder;  Cata- 
logues, 1892-1897. 

2.  Catalogue,  1897-1898 ;  Charlotte  Observer,  May  20, 1897. 


SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  247 

Julia  L.  Abbott,  Ph.  D.,  History,  Intellectual  Sciences; 
Erie  Caldwell,  Elocution,  Physical  Culture;  W.  M. 
Montgomery,  commercial  department;  C.  Aldyth  Cline, 
preparatory  department;  Friedrich  Carl  E.  Cranz,  M. 
Ruth  McLinn,  and  Blanche  L.  Rueckert,  Music;  Bettie 
V.  Alexander,  Art.^ 

THE    BAPTIST    FEMALE    UNIVERSITY. 

This  is  located  at  Raleigh.  It  is  the  intention  of  the 
church  to  make  it  the  equal  of  Wake  Forest  College. 
Work  has  been  going  on  for  the  past  three  years,  still  it 
is  by  no  means  ready  to  open.  Thirty-three  thousand 
dollars  have  been  spent  on  the  building,  and  $15,000  or 
$20,000  more  will  be  required  to  finish  it.  Rev.  0.  L. 
Stringfield  is  the  financial  agent,  and  he  is  pushing  the 
work  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  last  Baptist  Conven- 
tion at  Oxford  pledged  $5,004.  The  people  of  Raleigh 
are  now  taking  up  the  matter,  and  plans  are  being 
matured  by  which  the  city  can  furnish  the  money  neces- 
sary for  its  completion. 2 


1.  Catalogue.  1897-1898;  Charlotte  Observer,  May  20.  1897. 

2.  Circular  of  the  Agent ;  the  News  and  Ob.server,  December  19,  1897,  and  Janu- 
ary 20, 1898. 


Note. — This  pamphlet  is  made  up  of  reprints  taken 
at  each  issue  of  The  College  Message.  There  has  been 
no  opportunity  to  make  corrections.  Some  of  the  errors 
are  due  to  the  author  as  writer  and  proof-reader ;  and 
some  can  be  laid  to  the  printer.  The  whole  work  was 
written  in  the  spare  time  of  five  busy  montlis  and  many 
a  time  the  proof  had  to  be  read  in  a  hurry.  Circum- 
stances, over  which  the  author  has  no  control,  have 
necessitated  that  the   last  chapter  (conclusions)  be  left 

ofi".  .Aji^^rrr^^^  C.  L.  R. 


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